New video shows what was really said between Anthony Albanese and No More! rally organiser

New video has revealed what was really said between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the organiser of the National Rally Against Violence over the weekend. Watch it here.

New footage has emerged of the prime minister’s appearance at Saturday’s “National Rally Against Violence” in Canberra, which has resulted in Anthony Albanese facing a major PR disaster.

The two-minute video shows the moments before Mr Albanese took the microphone to address the large crowd.

“I actually to be honest – don’t really want anyone to speak – because I don’t think they should be given the microphone,” rally organiser Sarah Williams is heard saying, with Mr Albanese standing nearby.

“I do think it’s going to be the s*** Sarah show … and I’m going to become the next Brittany Higgins!” she declares.

Ms Williams continues: “I’m not looking for anyone to become that. I’m happy … to talk with the ministers … hear what they have to say … and then we’ll consider the decision of them speaking in about 10 minutes.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and No More rally organiser Sarah Williams.

It was at this point that a frustrated Mr Albanese declares: “Do you want me to speak or not? I am the Prime Minister.”

Ms Williams, looking directly at Mr Albanese replies: “But I’m not having any attacks towards myself or the organisation.”

“Speaking or not speaking,” she asks the crowd, who appear to respond overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Albanese speaking.

‘THAT’S A FULL OUT LIE’

The opening remarks from the prime minister resulted in Ms Williams being reduced to tears.

“I do want to congratulate the organisers, including yourself, for organising this today and for women right around the country who have mobilised to say enough is enough,” he says.

“To be clear, we did ask to speak, myself and Katy (Gallagher) and were told that it wasn’t possible and that’s fine. I respect the organisers’ right to do that.”

Ms Williams interjects: “That’s a lie. That’s a full out lie.”

Protest organiser Sarah Williams burst into tears while on the stage.

What followed was an extremely uncomfortable situation.

Mr Albanese addressed the crowd for more than five minutes. While he was speaking, Ms Williams was seen crying and being consoled by some of the other organisers while standing only inches away from the prime minister.

‘I RUN THIS COUNTRY’ CLAIM

After the event, Mr Williams released several statements on social media where she described the prime minister’s actions as “misogyny at its finest”.

“Men’s violence is a serious national emergency. Albanese abusing his power by aggressively stating when I asked the crowd if we should let him speak: ‘I’m the prime minister of the country, I run this country’ demonstrated his entitlement.

“The prime minister of Australia lied to his country today. Representatives from Gallagher and Albanese’s office both said this morning that they were sure Katy would be happy to speak. Not the prime minister.

“Albanese’s office made it clear he was just walking and was not interested in speaking. He never asked to speak. For him to not only demand he speak because he was being heckled, but lie, was disgraceful.

“Just because you are the prime minister of the country does not mean you get to use your title to scare a young woman into letting you speak,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the No More! National Rally Against Violence march.

The Daily Telegraph has not sighted any vision that shows Mr Albanese using the words “I run this country”.

However, Ms Williams has insisted on a number of occasions that it was said. When quizzed on Sky News she said: “just because someone didn’t get audio of him saying it … doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. That’s victim-blaming at its best.

“We’re about ending victim-blaming … and what you’re doing on live TV is victim-blaming me. So please don’t do that …. I don’t like that whatsoever … and that’s what encourages men’s violence.

“I was told I would be speaking to someone who was trauma-informed and wouldn’t be victim-blaming … so it’s pretty disappointing guys.”

‘IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY’

On Monday morning, the prime minister appeared across a range of morning television programs.

He was asked repeatedly about what he’d said to the organisers and the confusion around whether he was allowed to speak.

He told Channel Nine: “I’m focused on the issue. It was an emotional day for people and I get that.

“You were all there. So, the media were all around, they heard everything that was said there,” he said on Channel Seven.

And on the ABC: “Look, I wish Sarah well. I wish Sarah well. She did very well in organising the rallies, as did everyone there.”

Mr Albanese’s office has declined to provide further clarity on the incident.

The No More! National Rally Against Violence march at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

‘CONTEMPT AND RUDENESS’

Several of the event’s organisers have slammed the prime minister and insist he was not initially invited to speak.

“To then see him … the body language he used … the eye roll … he put Sarah in a corner … and now the whole country is turning on her,” Rhiannon told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

Ethan agreed: “I was in shock. I was happy that he was going to be there. The way he conducted himself … I was surprised and gobsmacked. I honestly could not believe it. (His team) couldn’t give two smacks. He couldn’t give a damn.”

Other attendees at the Canberra rally have painted a different picture.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the No More! National Rally Against Violence march at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture. NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

One of them wrote on Facebook:

“Unfortunately, we, along with over half the attendees left after hearing Sarah monopolise the whole event and then treat those politicians who attended with contempt and rudeness.

“Those MPs who attended in good faith were singled out and coerced into coming onto the stage. To then not let the Minister for Women speak was an insult to her and to the crowd.

“There was an atmosphere of bullying the MPs. The rally … turned into a long-winded monologue from Sarah. Sadly, we would be very reluctant to attend a walk organised by What Were You Wearing again.”

‘MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE’

Sarah Williams is a sexual assault survivor and the founder of “What Were You Wearing” … which describes itself as a not-for-profit, Indigenous-led organisation.

Last year she led a successful campaign to change the Responsible Service of Alcohol laws, resulting in mandatory drink spiking education for all venues in NSW.

She organised and co-ordinated 17 rallies across the country last weekend, attended by tens of thousands of people, in response to the horrific and shameful reality that every four days a woman dies at the hands of her current or former partner.

In the hours before Saturday’s march in Canberra, a post on her organisation’s social media read:

“Anthony Albanese will be at our Canberra rally today!”

In a corresponding video, Ms Williams tells the prime minister:

“I’m expecting at 2pm – you are to come up to me and let me know the commitment that you and the government will be making today.

“I’m also told that someone in government wants to speak about the national cabinet meeting and how that’s going to do a lot of change … I’m sorry but that’s not going to do anything. We haven’t even been invited to that.

“You’re talking about wanting to prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices but the rally that is led by Indigenous women isn’t invited. Make that make sense.”

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Originally published as New video shows what was really said between Anthony Albanese and No More! rally organiser