‘Enough is enough’: Dozens of women killed by violence in Australia so far this year
The scourge of violence against women has now allegedly claimed the lives of a staggering number of people in Australia this year alone.
Dozens of women have been killed by violence in Australia this year with the latest incident involving a man who shot a mother and daughter in a double-murder suicide at their home in Perth.
Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, was murdered on Friday alongside her 18-year-old daughter Gretl, at their Floreat residence by a 63-year-old man, who turned the gun on himself, according to police.
The murders come as Australia grapples with an rising crisis of male violence against women, with at least 38 women having allegedly died at the hands of a man since the start of this year. Five of those victims lost their lives in the horrific Bondi Westfield massacre in which the killer specifically targeted females in a stabbing frenzy. Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and stabbed 12 more during the rampage before police shot him dead last month.
Independent Curtin MP Kate Chaney, whose electorate takes in Floreat, said “enough is enough” in the wake of the Petelczycs’ tragic deaths.
“Two more women have lost their lives because of a man with a gun,” she said.
“So many women that I’ve spoken to in my community last night and this morning are feeling exhausted and furious because more women are dying at the hands of a man.”
Ms Chaney added that she had spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the incident.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister this morning and he sends his condolences to our community and I again reiterated to him that we need a sense of urgency on this issue.”
The federal government’s ten-year goal to eliminate gendered violence in one generation has come under the spotlight following national outcry over the killings of dozens of women this year.
To grapple with growing concern over a spike in gender-based violence, the federal government unveiled its National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children in 2022.
The $2.3bn, 10-point action plan replaced a previous national strategy after it failed to achieve its key objective of reducing rates of violence against women over a 12 year period.
♥ï¸SHE MATTERS: JENNIFER & GRETL PETELCZYC! ♥ï¸
— Australian Femicide Watch (@MapFemicide) May 25, 2024
May 24, 2024: Jennifer & Gretl Petelczyc were killed yesterday in Floreat, Western Australia. The man who ended their lives killed himself. Jennifer and Gretl are the 37th & 38th Australian women killed in 2024. pic.twitter.com/l32xItHvmr
WA Police were called to Berkeley Cr in Floreat about 4.30pm on Friday after reports a gunman had fired shots at a home.
“The male discharged a firearm, killing the 59-year-old female, and critically injuring the younger female,” WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton said on Saturday afternoon.
“St John provided emergency treatment to the younger female at the house, she was then taken to Royal Perth Hospital, but unfortunately, she tragically died.”
The Petelczycs were friends of the man’s ex-wife, according to officials.
Mr Gorton said the police would classify the deaths as a double murder suicide.
It will not be counted as a domestic violence incident because the man and the women were not related to one another.
The alleged killer was a licensed firearms holder and the owner of the firearm used in the blast of violence, according to police.
Mr Gorton said emergency services arrived at the scene of the crime and heard a final shot.
“We’re aware that police were on the street when the last shot was fired and we believe the last shot was the male taking his own life,” he said.
Police believe the ex-wife of the gunman and Ms Petelczyc, who was a widow, were “good friends”.
“The female at the address and the male were known to each other or had met previously, but it still is an ongoing investigation — we can’t go into too much detail,” Detective Gorton said.
The gunman reportedly thought his ex-wife was at the property, according to a report by the ABC.
The ABC reported the gunman’s ex-wife had told the women to hide because her ex-husband was going to the house.
Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas shared a message on social media about the “heartbreaking and unimaginable” tragedy before revealing he has a connection to the victims.
“This is a shocking event which has left the local community stunned and in mourning,” he began.
“Like many in the area, as is so typical of our area, my family had a connection to the mother and daughter who so terribly lost their lives.
“To their family, friends and neighbours, please know the Floreat community is grieving with you and is here for you.”
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths is ongoing.
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