2021-03-25
by Adam Bandt —
The women of Australia are speaking loudly and speaking clearly, but the men of this government are still not listening. But they can't ignore it and hope women will go away. The more the government ignores the crisis of male violence against women in this country, the more women will join this movement and demand: 'Enough is enough'. In a classic display of chauvinism, when women are talking to him, the Prime Minister isn't even listening. He demands that they come to him. He won't go out to meet Australian women on their own terms. He won't even read the allegations of women who have suffered and are suffering from male violence, because, to quote his first major speech as Prime Minister, 'We look after our mates'.
He won't adopt the changes that inquiry after inquiry have said need to happen to eliminate violence against women because, again, he believes that he knows best. The 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work report to end sexual harassment have been on the Prime Minister's desk for 14 months and he hasn't done a thing to turn them into law. He refuses to adequately fund the services that are having to turn away women fleeing violence or to address the financial insecurity that forces women to stay in dangerous situations.
The Prime Minister is more dedicated to silence against women. He tells them to go away, know their place, be quiet and be grateful that they aren't being shot at. But the women of Australia and their allies hear the Prime Minister's silence. They see his inaction. And we won't let this slide until this national crisis of gendered