Thousands gather at Melbourne March 4 Justice to protest gendered violence
A former Labor staffer has told Melbourne’s March 4 Justice rally Parliament House was a “playground” for many of the men she worked with.
Victoria
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Tens of thousands of Australians have demanded an end to gendered violence in dozens of rallies across the country that culminated in a powerful address from former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins at the scene of her alleged rape.
Two years after the alleged incident, Ms Higgins made a surprise return to Parliament House in Canberra, bravely speaking at the March4Justice protest inspired by her decision to go public last month.
In Melbourne, about 10,000 filled Treasury Gardens, while Australian of the Year Grace Tame led the Hobart rally.
Ms Higgins said the treatment of women in Australia was a “human problem”, not a “political problem”.
“We are all here today not because we want to be here, but because we have to be here,” she said.
“We fundamentally recognise the system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place, and there are significant failings in the power structures within our institutions. We are here because it is unfathomable that we are still having to fight this same stale, tired fight.”
The Canberra rally was supported by dozens of Labor MPs, as well as Greens and independents, but the government had a smaller presence led by Jane Hume.
Minister for Women Marise Payne, who did not attend, later said she had scanned Ms Higgins’ speech and agreed with many of her concerns.
Scott Morrison refused to meet the protesters outside, and organiser Janine Hendry declined his offer for a private meeting, saying: “We have already come to the front door.”
Speaking after the rally, the Prime Minister acknowledged the “very genuine and real frustrations”, saying the protests were a “triumph of democracy”.
“Not far from here, such marches even now are being met with bullets, but not here in this country,” he said, prompting an angry reaction from Labor MPs. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese accused him of having “not so much a tin ear, as a wall of concrete”. In a fiery speech, the Labor leader told Mr Morrison: “Just listen to what they’re saying, forget about the political management … and then act.”
Ms Higgins also criticised government leaders who used to be her “idols”, saying they “hid behind throwaway phrases like ‘due process’ and ‘presumption of innocence’ while failing to acknowledge how the justice system is notoriously stacked against victims of sexual crimes”.
Ms Tame, who was sexually assaulted as a child, encouraged other victims to find their voices. “Evil thrives in silence,” she said. “Behaviour unspoken, behaviour ignored, is behaviour endorsed.”
BRITTANY HIGGINS WAS NOT ALONE: EX-LABOR STAFFER
Former Labor staffer Jamila Rizvi has paid tribute to Brittany Higgins’ bravery in a powerful speech at Melbourne’s March 4 Justice rally.
She said Ms Higgins was not alone and revealed dozens of staffers had contacted her to reveal “whispers ... to say out loud for the first time they were sexually assaulted while working in our nation’s parliament”.
“As women, we know our safety and security at work are not guaranteed,” she said.
“I was 22 when I started working as a staffer at Australia’s Parliament House.
“It wasn’t until years later I realised just how unusual, how dangerous that experience was.
“For many of those men parliament was their playground.”
She said reports of how common false allegations are have been exaggerated by news media, film and television plots and dinner table conversations.
“There is a repeated insinuation women can’t be believed, that women are crazy,” she said.
“This is a lie.
“It doesn’t happen barely at all, believe the woman.”
She called for an independent inquiry into the rape allegation against Christian Porter, which he has categorically denied.
“Otherwise it will be the court of public opinion that decides, and look at the court.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said no March 4 Justice participants were arrested at the event, which had been registered with and approved by authorities.
“Victoria Police was pleased with the crowd behaviour of those involved in the March 4 Justice rally at Treasury Gardens,” she said.
Grateful I got to be part of @theheraldsun coverage of #MarchForJustice today. Thank you to those who kindly shared their reasons for protesting with me. pic.twitter.com/blXfb8CXd5
— Sarah Booth (@sarahbooth_14) March 15, 2021
“All participants were compliant with the Chief Health Officer restrictions and no breaches or incidents were detected.”
At least four people who glued themselves to the road at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets were arrested for obstructing traffic but they were not part of the rally.
Meanwhile, demonstrators have continued to force road closures in Melbourne’s CBD as peak hour approaches.
Collins St is closed between Russell and Elizabeth streets with all westbound cars being directed by police towards Bourke St or Flinders St.
Trams on routes 11, 12 and 109 are being diverted and no route 48 trams are currently running.
Victoria Police have the rally under control and authorities will reopen streets when it is safe to do so.
Earlier, former Liberal MP Julia Banks, who resigned from the party in 2018, citing its treatment of women, spoke to the packed crowd of thousands.
Standing atop a temporary stage on the back of a ute, she told protesters she initially said “no” when asked to speak.
She said the momentum of the movement inspired her to change her mind.
“This is the moment,” she said. “I’m speaking here today for the thousands and thousands of woman who can’t speak, who continue to be silenced and who have been silenced for too long.”
She said Edith Cowan — Australia’s first female MP — would be looking down at the crowd, proud of their efforts.
“But she’d also be looking at the men (in parliament) thinking, really – this is all the progress you’ve made?” she said.
“Women are fed up. Enough is enough. Enough of the internal reviews.
“They stay internal with the big boys in power who do nothing but maybe cover them up.”
She said this was a turning point, labelling the movement a “defining” moment in Australia’s history and “those in power would prefer we just shut up”.
“I think our message is best delivered to the Prime Minister through the words of Helen Reddy’s iconic songs.”
“I am woman, hear me roar,” she said in unison with the crowd, who shouted back the lyrics.
Thousands of Victorians are rallying at 10 locations across the state to protest against gendered violence after allegations of sexual harassment and assault hit Parliament House.
The MC led the crowd in a chant of 8-9-8, to represent the 898 women and children killed by men.
A large white banner, bearing all 898 names, was held aloft by protestors in a moving tribute.
“May they Rest In Peace,” she said.
“Rest in power.”
After a minute’s silence in their memory, the crowd turned their backs to the stage, in a symbolic move to represent them turning their backs on parliament.
Hundreds of protestors, clad in black, arrived at Treasury Gardens for the protest.
Organisers greeted attendees with hand sanitiser and masks.
The rally kicked off with music, the sounds of drums and protestors deafening cheers and applause echoing around the garden.
Protestor Emily Gale said she wanted to march for all the survivors who couldn’t attend.
She said the response by the government had been upsetting and many found the last week emotional and triggering.
Izzy, 11, marching with sister Maddie, 9, and mum Rachele, proudly held her “Fight like a girl” poster above her head.
She said she made the sign because “usually fight like a girl is considered an insult, but I want it to be a good thing”.
Speaker Corra Coperu told the packed park she was “13 when my family tried to report it to the school, only to be told ‘boys will be boys’”.
“I am one of many gender diverse youth who will be forced out of mainstream education so ‘boys can be boys’,” she said.
“The system has failed all of us.”
“My greatest nightmare is to be murdered at the hands of a man because I am trans,” she said, citing the higher rates of violence against transgender woman, particularly those of colour.
“We want justice now, and not behind closed doors,” she said.
The nationwide movement has four demands, including the implementation of the 55 recommendations from last year’s inquiry into workplace sexual harassment, which the government is yet to act on.
They are also calling for an independent investigation into gender-based violence, an increase in public funding for violence prevention services and the enactment of a Federal Gender Equality Act.
Melbourne organiser Bronwyn Currie thanked the crowd for attending the rally, saying it was one of the “most important things” she had ever done in her life.
“Look around us, look across the nation, the sisterhood is fierce,” she said.
“We are united here today by our collective grief. We have grabbed the attention of men around the country, and put them on notice.
“For the first time in a long time, I feel hope.”
The Animal Justice Party representative and mother-of-five earlier said this issue “resonated with every single woman”.
“I challenge anyone to find a woman who has not been touched by gendered violence,” she said.
“Every woman has been sexually harassed, assaulted, raped or knows a woman who has and has had to console a woman over the issue.
“I think it starts at the top with leadership and I want Mr Morrison to come out and face the women of Australia today.
“This is a juggernaut for women in our country and their allies and is driven by the happenings in our parliament.”
Ms Currie was referencing allegations against political figures in Canberra which have recently emerged in the media.
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by an unnamed colleague at Parliament House in 2019.
A separate claim of a rape in 1988 was made against Attorney-General Christian Porter after friends of the alleged victim, who died last year, came forward.
Attorney-General Christian Porter, who identified himself as the then unnamed Minister at the centre of the claim, has categorically denied the allegation.
The widespread media coverage of the two separate allegations sparked an outpouring of testimonies from staffers on both sides of the aisle about Parliament House’s culture.
SEPARATE PROTEST AT VIC LIB HEADQUARTERS
Activists will head to the Victorian Liberal headquarters in a breakaway rally, separate to the Melbourne’s Women’s March 4 Justice.
National Union of Students Executive member Anneke Demanuele will lead the march after the Treasury Garden event finishes and is demanding Scott Morrison stand down Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Attorney-General Christian Porter.
She said she was disappointed by reports the 12pm march won’t take to the streets.
“The documented (alleged) crimes of the political and business elite – of which gross misogyny and sexual abuse is just one – deserve a stronger response than sitting passively in a park,” she said.
“We’re also concerned about reports that cabinet ministers have been invited to the sister event in Canberra.
“In our minds, this is a protest against Scott Morrison’s cabinet and government, not an opportunity for them to pretend to be our allies.”
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