Anthony Albanese urges men to ‘step up’ and fight domestic violence ‘epidemic’

Family violence murders in Australia have reached “epidemic” levels, Anthony Albanese will warn, as he calls on the nation to “educate our sons” and “talk to our mates” to end the cycle of abuse.

Family violence murders in Australia have reached “epidemic” levels, Anthony Albanese will warn as he calls on the nation to “educate our sons” and “talk to our mates” to end the cycle of abuse.

The Prime Minister will mount an impassioned plea to Australian men to be “prepared to take responsibilities for our actions and our attitudes” in a speech to the UN Women’s annual breakfast on Wednesday.

“We must face up to where we are falling short and look for new ways to do better,” he will say.

“One death from family violence is one too many. One death a week is an epidemic.

“It is an offence against every value we hold as Australians, it flies in the face of everything we say and imagine about ourselves as nation.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is falling short in its efforts to end domestic and family violence. Picture: NCA NewsWire

More than 60 women were killed, many by intimate partners, in 2023, according to domestic and family violence advocates collecting data.

Mr Albanese will say the ending the epidemic of violence has to “involve men stepping up”.

“Because violence against women is not a problem that women should have to solve,” he will say.

“Men have to be prepared to take responsibility for our actions and our attitudes.

“To educate our sons, to talk to our mates, to drive real change in the culture of our sporting clubs, our faith and community groups and our workplaces.”

Mr Albanese will say he is “confident” Australians will “do better”.

“Practically every week, whenever we read about another life violently stolen, all of us are reminded of why change is needed and why it’s needed as a matter of urgency,” he will say.

A federal statistical dashboard is due to be launched by mid this year to provide more timely reporting on intimate partner homicide.

It will initially provide quarterly updates, but ultimately aim to provide more real-time data to enable police, governments and advocates to better understand trends and risks.

Labor’s other policy initiatives, including the national plan to end violence against women and children, 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave and implementing recommendations to improve equality in the workforce have lifted Australia from 43rd in the Global Gender Gap rankings to 26th.

But Mr Albanese will warn even this “welcome” progress does not safeguard against family violence on its own.

“Even nations that lead the world on measures of gender equality are dealing with their own shocking rates of violence,” he will say.

“Some of it – in the cruellest of ironies – occurring as a reaction to the progress being made.

“Male partners using violence to try and reassert some sort of imagined authority.”

For assistance contact: 1800 RESPECT

Originally published as Anthony Albanese urges men to ‘step up’ and fight domestic violence ‘epidemic’