Here’s What the Women’s March 4 Justice Rallies Around Australia Looked Like

Trigger warning: this article discusses sexual assault, suicide and violence.

Over the past few days, people around Australia gathered together to protest violence and sexual assault against women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of colour, and called for equality, justice, respect and fairness in Australia’s society.

Almost a week after International Women’s Day, the marches were held to protest the Australian government’s response to several sexual assault allegations made against government employees.

Why were the marches held?

In February, former Liberal Party staffer, Brittany Higgins, publicly alleged that she was raped at Parliament House in Defense Minister Linda Reynolds’ ministerial office by a colleague in March 2019.

In a report by news.com.au, Higgins tells the story of her alleged assault that has since sparked outrage about the treatment of women in parliament. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised for his response to Higgins' rape allegations.

Since Higgins’ story came out, another three women have come forward to make a complaint about the man who allegedly raped Higgins.

Less than two weeks later, a letter was sent to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other senators accusing a senior Cabinet Minister in the federal government of an alleged rape that occurred in 1988, when the complainant was just 16.

The complainant in the letter had first reported the alleged rape in 2019 to detectives from the New South Wales Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad as well as several of her friends, but took her own life in June 2020. This now means that a criminal investigation is very unlikely, with the NSW Police stating that there was insufficient admissible evidence to proceed with the investigation.

Following the reveal of the letter, Attorney General Christian Porter came forward and publicly identified himself as the alleged Cabinet Minister but strongly denied the allegations in a press conference in early March.

Since Porter went public, many have called for an independent inquiry into the historical rape allegation, but Mr Morrison has dismissed these calls, claiming that this is a police-only issue.

Here's what the March 4 Justice looked like.

Both cases sparked major outrage within the Australian public, and ultimately became the catalyst for the Women’s March 4 Justice rallies that occurred over the weekend.

The first march was held in Perth on Sunday—Porter’s home city—in which thousands of women and men filled Forrest Chase in the CBD.

According to The West Australian, Porter's ex-wife Lucy Gunn was also in attendance at the Perth rally.

On Monday, cities all around the country followed suit, as people protested violence against women, sexual misconduct and misogyny in Australia.

This is what it looked like:

Perth

Huge crowd in Perth for the first Women's March 4 Justice. @abcperth @abcnews pic.twitter.com/UbBsR7Dp6C

— Briana Shepherd (@_brianashepherd) March 14, 2021

Canberra

Many members of parliament left the building to join the crowds in the march.

Brittany Higgins joined the march in Canberra, outside parliament house on Monday and gave a powerful speech to the crowd.

Melbourne

Women’s March 4 Justice Melbourne @march4justiceau #March4Justice #EnoughIsEnough #March4JusticeMelbourne #WhyIMarch #auspol pic.twitter.com/eBLB73zC8a

— Lacuna LENS (@LacunaLens) March 16, 2021

Included at the Melbourne march was a metres-long banner, containing the countless names of women and children killed by men in Melbourne.

Women’s March 4 Justice LIVE updates: Brittany Higgins addresses Parliament House crowd as thousands of women rally across Australia for gender equality
Metres-long banner bearing names of women, children killed by men unfurled in Melbourne https://t.co/rRrvwckQUL cc @WgarNews pic.twitter.com/iShY0M1pI3

— lynlinking (@lynlinking) March 15, 2021

Sydney

Brisbane

Adelaide

So many people at the awesome March 4 Justice today in Adelaide pic.twitter.com/8LPU15G6T8

— Dr Perry Beasley-Hall 🪲🧬🏳️‍🌈 (@pbeasleyhall) March 15, 2021

Hobart

A huge turn out to the Women’s March for Justice in Hobart. pic.twitter.com/c3iMEwJ2hY

— Judy Augustine (@JudyAugustine) March 15, 2021

Australian of the Year and sexual abuse survivor Grace Tame marched in Hobart, also speaking to a large crowd.

Newcastle

Armidale

The allegations within the Australian government are not isolated events. In February, a Sydney woman launched an online petition that found over 2,000 Australian school students had experienced sexual assult.

If you couldn't attend the marches over the weekend or want to do more, you can sign the Women's March 4 Justice petition here.

Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts, sexual assault or domestic and family violence? Seeking to support someone who is? Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Visit ReachOut to get support to help you with everything from everyday issues through to tough times.

Header Image: Twitter (@_brianashepherd)