"It's up to men": Anthony Albanese joins violence against women rally
Anthony Albanese has joined a rally in Canberra to protest the recent spate of acts of violence against women, admitting his government hasn't "done enough" to ensure Aussie women are protected.
Addressing the 5,000-strong crowd at Parliament House, Mr Albanese delivered a fiery speech, demanding nationwide change to all levels of Australian society and asking protesters to hold him “accountable” for his government’s actions.
Mr Albanese said Australia needed to change its “culture”, “attitudes” and “legal system” to end the scourge of violence against women that has already allegedly claimed the lives of 26 women this year.
“We’re here today to demand that governments of all levels, must do better, including my own, and every state and territory government,” he said.
“We’re here as well to say that society, and Australia, must do better. We need to change the culture, we need to change attitudes, we need to change the legal system."
Mr Albanese spoke about some of the actions his government had taken to address the problem, including the introduction of domestic violence payments.
A protester interrupted, saying “it’s not enough”.
The prime minister replied, “I agree it’s not enough. I said that. We need to do more.”
Mr Albanese finished his speech by calling the problem a “national crisis” and said one or two months of funding would not be enough to solve it.
“It’s up to men to change men’s behaviour as well,” he said. “Yes, people do need to be made accountable and I’ll be accountable for what my government does.”
Thousands took to the grounds of Parliament House on Sunday to listen to Albanese's address, where one of the event organisers Sarah Williams from the company WWYW (What Were You Wearing?), claims the Prime Minister lied to the crowd at the start of his stirring speech.
In his speech in the afternoon, Mr Albanese suggested he had asked the rally organisers for permission to speak but had been knocked back.
“We did ask to speak, myself and (Finance minister) Katy (Gallagher) and we were told that’s not possible,” he said to the 5000 strong crowd.
“And that’s fine, we respect the organisers’ right to do that.”
However, Ms Williams took to social media after the event to say the Prime Minister had "lied to the country".
“The Prime Minister of Australia lied to his country today,” she began.
“Representatives from (Finance Minister Katy) Gallagher and Albanese’s offices both said this morning that they were sure Katy would be happy to speak. Not the Prime Minister.”
“He never asked to speak. For him to not only demand he speak because he was being heckled, but lie was disgraceful."
“He demonstrated today what entitlement looks like. A man with power trying to diminish a vulnerable young woman.”
In an awkward and tense exchange, Ms Williams then demanded the politicians show their commitment to the organisation’s demands, and declare that the recent spate of murders of women by men was a national emergency.
However, the Labor ministers appeared non-responsive and confused, initially refusing to front the rally, a move which brought boos and heckling from the audience.
“Why are you even here?” one protester yelled from the crowd.
“Shame on you,” shouted another.
Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram