Thousands attend violence against women rallies across Australia

Twenty-six Australian women have died this year allegedly at the hands of male perpetrators. Now, people are demanding change.

An image snapped at a rally calling out the government for not stepping up when it comes to violence against women has shown how fed up Australia is.

Twenty-six Australian women have died allegedly at the hands of a male perpetrator in the 16 weeks since January 1, according to the Counting Dead Women project. Eleven of those alleged murders have occurred in the last 24 days alone.

The relentlessness of violence has prompted pleas for urgent action aimed at the government, and a clear message that women are fed up. Seventeen rallies are being held across Australia to voice this.

A single picture has shown the crowd at Sydney's anti domestic violence rally. Picture: news.com.au/Riah Matthews

Thousands took to the streets to demand action against domestic violence. Picture: Instagram/WWYW

Thousands showed up in Newcastle and Ballarat on Friday. Picture: Instagram/WWYW

The marches were organised by What Were You Wearing (WWYW) this weekend. WWYW is a group dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence, taking its name from a question many are asked when reporting sexual violence.

“Show up this weekend! We need our government to know ENOUGH has been ENOUGH for far too long,” the group pleaded.

Sydney’s rally has so far been the most well attended of the 17 rallies set to take place over the weekend, with thousands turning up. The picture showed how angry many Australians are by the epidemic gripping the nation.

Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, lawyer and Indigenous activist, said they would like to take a moment for the women who’s loss of life has been documented — adding there are so many people who have sought help and been turned away.

She said this is not a problem that started in the last five years, it’s been a moment since the beginning of colonisation. There was a moment of silence for those who’s lives have been lost.

The rally is a call to action. Picture: news.com.au/Riah Matthews

Many had signs at the event. Picture: news.com.au/Riah Matthews

“I am sick of attitude changes, I want to see movement on the ground,” Turnbull-Roberts said, adding that there needs be action rather than money put towards changing attitudes.

People from all gender identities, ages and backgrounds stood side by as they demonstrated that they were fed up with women losing their lives to gender based violence in Australia.

“Women safety is everyone’s responsibility” read a sign that one man held up, while another man had a high visibility shirt that read “Five, six, seven, eight no more violence, no more hate. Two, four, six, eight, no more violence no more hate.”

Other signs read “call out your mates” and “real mates call their mates in”.

Rallies kicked off in Newcastle and Ballarat on Friday night with thousands in attendance and taking to the streets.

“We say no to domestic violence” and “one, two, three, four, we won’t take it anymore. Five, six, seven, eight, no more violence, no more hate” were some of the chants echoed across the crowd as they attempted to get their message across to government officials.

One person held up a sign that read “we just want to get home safe” while another read “I’m so f*****g fed up”.

Twenty women have allegedly been killed at the hands of men in 2024. Picture: Instagram/WWYW

The level of attendance showed the anger Australia feels. Picture: news.com.au/Riah Matthews

“Women everywhere are fed up, frustrated, sickened and angered by the ongoing crisis of male violence against women and children in Australia,” Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon told the crowd, according to the Newcastle Herald.

“Together we can, and must, put an end to gender-based violence in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities.”

Rallies will take place in Sydney, Hobart and Canberra on Saturday while other major cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth will take to the streets on Sunday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be at Canberra’s march.

Thousands have shown up to the Sydney rally. Picture: news.com.au/Riah Matthews

A total of 17 rallies will have been held by the time the weekend comes to an end.

Sarah Williams, who is the founder of WWYW, told ABC Breakfast there were five demands included more funding for domestic, sexual and family violence services, as well as the Prime Minister declaring the violence a national emergency.

She said she didn’t expect when she started organising the rallies that so many people would be angry and want to stand in solidarity.

“I think there is no better time than now to really put some pressure on change-makers to make some change,” she said.

At the Sydney rally, she spoke about mandatory training against victim blaming for first responders, adding people shouldn’t be able to work in these industries without passing this training.