Women leaders join in call for ‘meaningful change’ in halting violence and discrimination

Christine Holgate, Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame are joining with other women leaders in a call for more action against violence, harassment and discrimination.

A big group of prominent women have called in a video for better women’s defence in Australia. From left, they include Christine Holgate, Lucy Turnbull, Grace Tame, Michele O'Neil, Brittany Higgins, Yasmine Poole, Georgie Dent and Julia Banks.

Brittany Higgins, Grace Tame, Christine Holgate and other prominent women are joining in a call for effective action to support women and children against violence and harassment and to end discrimination.

On the eve of International Women’s Day the newly formed alliance of women, which also includes Lucy Turnbull, former MP Julia Banks, Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil, Paralympic gold medallist Madison de Rozario, youth advocate Yasmin Poole, The Parenthood executive director Georgie Dent and others, released a video and letter to all Australians seeking reforms that would have a tangible effect in addressing inequality that persists for Australian women.

It comes after a milestone year for women's safety, with ex-Liberal staffer Ms Higgins alleging she was assaulted in Parliament House in 2019, prompting a number of reports and reviews of parliamentary culture.

Ms Tame also caused a stir during her tenure as Australian of the Year in 2021, calling out as insufficient the response from government in addressing issues of women's safety.

Ms Holgate, a former Australia Post chief executive, told a Senate committee last year she was bullied out of a job and endured “humiliation” from Scott Morrison.

Ms Holgate said women in Australia had been calling for safety, respect and equity for generations, but the time for change had come.

“There have been countless reviews, inquiries, promises, conferences and bodies established to assess and report on the inequity and injustice women face, but there has been no meaningful change,” she said.

“We will not accept this any longer, and we’re asking all Australians to join us in demanding real action.”

Ms Tame said it was time “for real change”.

“This isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a human-rights issue,” she said.

Through the campaign titled “Safety. Respect. Equity.”, the alliance calls for all 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work report to be implemented, including a positive duty on employers to stop harassment in the workplace.

It also calls for 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, ensuring effective employment programs for women with disability, stronger, consistent child sexual assault laws, eliminating the gender pay gap, free early childhood education and care, expanding parental leave and embedding consent education in schools, universities and workplaces.