PM acknowledges domestic violence crisis amid rallies following Perth murder

On Friday, April 28, 2024, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared domestic violence against women and children a "national crisis" and announced a snap national cabinet meeting for next Wednesday. The declaration came as Albanese joined thousands at a rally in Canberra, one of several held nationwide, following the murder of a 30-year-old woman in Perth. The victim, Erica Hay, was a mother of four who was allegedly physically assaulted and killed in a house fire by a 35-year-old man, who has been charged with murder and criminal damage by fire.

The incident has brought the total number of women killed in violent circumstances in Australia this year to 27, prompting the Prime Minister's declaration of a "national crisis" and the announcement of a national cabinet meeting to address the issue. Albanese delivered a fiery speech at the rally, demanding widespread change in Australian society to address the "scourge of gender-based violence." He called for changes to culture, attitudes, and the legal system, and committed that his government would redouble its efforts to counter gender-based violence.

Why this matters: The Prime Minister's declaration of a "national crisis" and the nationwide rallies highlight the urgent need to address the persistent problem of violence against women in Australia. The high number of women killed in violent circumstances this year underscores the severity of the issue and the importance of taking decisive action to prevent further tragedies.

The federal government has implemented a 10-year National Plan to End Violence against Women in October 2022, committing $2.3 billion in funding. However, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth acknowledged that more time is needed to determine if the plan is yielding results. The government has also dismissed calls for a royal commission into domestic violence, instead prioritizing the implementation of the national plan.

Rally organizers and attendees urged the government to commit to concrete actions, including declaring violence against women a national emergency and providing more funding for frontline services. Albanese acknowledged the government's ongoing work but said "it's not enough" and that more needs to be done to change the culture and attitudes towards domestic violence. "It is up to all governments, including my own, to do better in addressing this issue," Albanese said at the rally.

Key Takeaways

• Australian PM declares domestic violence a "national crisis"
• Nationwide rallies held after murder of 30-year-old woman in Perth
• 27 women killed in violent circumstances in Australia this year
• Government committed $2.3B to end violence against women, but more action needed
• PM calls for changes to culture, attitudes, and legal system to address issue