'Women don't need to change, men do': Premier reacts to Eurydice Dixon's alleged murder

Victoria's Premier says women don't need to change their behaviour, men do - following the murder of Eurydice Dixon.

A woman places flowers at a growing makeshift memorial for Eurydice Dixon at the Princes Park sporting precinct in Melbourne.

Source: AAP and Facebook

Victoria Police will spend the day at the Melbourne park where a young woman was raped and murdered to talk to the public about safety.

Officers were at Princes Park at North Carlton on Saturday along with counsellors and support people from the Red Cross and Victorian Council of Churches.

The death of aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, this week has sparked a public debate about the safety of women.

Broadmeadows 19-year-old Jaymes Todd has been charged with her murder and police believe the two had no previous connection.

Ms Dixon reportedly messaged her boyfriend "I'm almost home safe HBU (how about you)" before she was attacked.

"Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that they can go about their usual business," the force said in a statement.

"As police, it is our role to provide people with both reassurance but also tips on how we can all stay safe in our community."

Premier Daniel Andrews took to social media on Friday to urge women to not change their behaviours.

"In a few days, women across Melbourne will gather in Princes Park for a vigil of her life," he wrote. 

"And they will do so firm in the knowledge that Eurydice died because of her attacker's decisions – not because of her own. They're right. And we need to accept that fact, too.

"We'll never change a thing until we do. We'll never change this culture of violence against women. All women.

"We'll never change the fact that one woman in this country dies every week at the hands of a partner or former partner – someone they loved, in the safety of their own home.

"We'll keep asking "Why didn't she leave him?" instead of asking "Why did he hurt her?" We'll keep asking "Why was she alone in the dark?" instead of asking "Why was he?" We'll keep ignoring the real problem, instead of actually fixing it.

"So our message to Victorian women is this: Stay home. Or don't. Go out with friends at night. Or don't.

"Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms, because women don't need to change their behaviour. Men do."

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2 min read

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By Helen Chen

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