Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH is once again preparing to rally the state and federal government to address the “growing epidemic” of domestic, family, and sexual violence against women in Australia. 

Organised by advocacy group What Were You Wearing as part of their National Rally Collective, the No More: National Rally Against Violence will be held around Australia this weekend “calling for action” to combat the nationwide “scourge” of gendered domestic and sexual violence against women in Australia. 

At least 50 women have died at the hands of men in the first seven months of this year, compared to 64 for the entirety of last year. 

In WA, domestic violence incidents have risen 40 per cent in the last five years, and restraining order breaches have increased by 20 per cent in 2023, according to WA Police. 

Speakers at the Perth rally are set to include human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique, Greens senators Dorinda Cox and Jordon Steele-John, and independent Kate Chaney.

Ms Chaney, who attended the first rally in April, says both state and federal governments have “positive-sounding plans” to address gender-based violence, but that more action is required to deal with such a massive nation-wide problem. 

“Good intentions are a start but we need to hold governments to account and ensure this desire for change doesn’t disappear into the bureaucratic abyss,” Ms Chaney said.  

“We need to see changes from primary prevention to early intervention to crisis support and recovery. 

“It requires action from all levels of government, as well as everyone in the community taking a stand against this violence.”

What Were You Wearing representative Zoe Cornelius says that despite the previous rallies in April and subsequent funding announced by the federal government there is “nowhere near enough” support for victims and survivors of sex- and gender-based violence. 

“We’re struggling to get that support from the government, especially for organisations that help support victims and survivors,” Ms Cornelius said. 

Current federal and state laws do not go far enough to protect victim survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, according to Ms Cornelius, which is “just ridiculous” given the number of women dying at the hands of men is getting worse. 

“If someone comes out on bail from committing an assault of some kind, there is little to no tracking of that person and what they’re doing, where they are,” she said. 

Another request of the protestors is for first responders nation-wide to undergo mandatory trauma informed training to best handle situations of domestic and sexual violence without causing further suffering.

“Paramedics, doctors, nurses, and police are the first to respond to these situations, and in some cases, this can even be school teachers for children,” Ms Cornelius said. 

“At the moment it’s not mandatory anywhere, so that they are able to give care that is sensitive to someone that’s going through this situation.

“This is why so many women don’t go and report or don’t go to the hospital when things happen, because a lot of the time it’s not met sensitively.” 

The rallies are a major part of What Were You Wearing’s advocacy, who also work with victims of sexual assault through their Survivor Healing Groups. 

WWYW is also researching WA’s drink spiking regulation, which would include prevention training as part of the Responsible Service of Alcohol qualifications, and mandatory security cameras in venues where alcohol is sold. 

Perth’s No More: National Rally Against Violence will be starting at 11am at Forrest Chase in the CBD, and will march to Parliament House.

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER