Tens of thousands of men, women and children have marched across Australian capital cities and regional towns calling for determined action to end gendered and sexual violence.
Advocates say the issue was not properly addressed during the federal election campaign, with funding pledges "barely even hitting the sides".
The No More: National Rally Against Violence saw attendees gather in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and regional centres in between.
Protesters gather in Newcastle on Saturday. Source: Getty / Roni Bintang
"We need to be able to stop it before it starts," she told a 2,000-strong crowd on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday.
"We need more funding for primary prevention, more trauma-informed response training for police, increased crisis housing, bail law reform and uniform consent laws," she said.
Protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne honoured the 128 women killed since the start of 2024. Source: AAP / Samantha Lock
Hundreds met in Sydney's Hyde Park, while the regional centres of Newcastle and Wollongong saw a similar turnout, including the family and friends of Mackenzie Anderson, a young mother who was stabbed 78 times and brutally murdered by her former partner in 2022.
Paper hearts were arranged in Hyde Park as a tribute to victims of gendered and sexual violence. Source: Getty / Lisa Maree Williams
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who accused ex-colleague Bruce Lehrmann of raping her at Parliament House, was also at the rally with a sign reading: "25 women killed and still not an election issue."
In the lead-up to the rallies, organisers urged more men to attend and take accountability for violence against women.
Marchers in Brisbane. Source: AAP / Darren England
Consent and healthy relationship education should be expanded to more schools with additional funding, and community sporting clubs and major codes could also play a role in reaching different generations, she said.
A total of 128 women have been killed since January 2024, according to the Australian Femicide Watch website.
The names of 128 women killed since January 2024 were read aloud at the Melbourne rally. Source: AAP / Samantha Lock
"We're here because men keep killing us," she said.
"Violence against women is primarily a male problem ... it's not a women's problem to solve but it's women who are the ones who do the work."
Advocates say a government-run national domestic violence register is desperately needed to track the issue.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, marked each May, is an opportunity to raise community awareness of the impacts of violence and the support available to those affected.
The rallies also called for fully funded frontline domestic violence services, expanded crisis accommodation and increased funding for primary prevention programs.
Protesters in Brisbane. Source: AAP / Darren England
The re-elected Labor government previously promised to prevent domestic violence perpetrators from abusing the tax and superannuation systems.
It has also pledged to invest more funding to stop high-risk perpetrators through electronic monitoring.
But Moody said ministers and leaders needed to sit down with frontline services to figure out what works.
Some demonstrators in Sydney weren't impressed with the newly re-elected Labor government's policies on tackling violence against women. Source: Getty / Lisa Maree Williams
Williams also said the government should engage with a wider range of organisations and advocates in the sector.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
