Hundreds at Coast rally against violence
Hundreds of people on Sunday took part in a rally on the Gold Coast against sexual and domestic violence.
The Broadwater Parklands event heard from speakers including federal MP for Richmond Justine Elliot; Domestic Violence Prevention Centre CEO Lucy Gregory; The Sanctuary Women, Children, and Pets Refuge founder Simone Patterson; and campaigner Melanie Arnost, who started a petition that has been signed by more than 30,000 people.
Ms Elliot said “too many women” were dying at the hands of men. “Enough is enough,” she said. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to end this”.
The rally also heard from Narelle and Darren O’Brien. Mr O’Brien’s sister Teresa Bradford was murdered by her estranged husband at her Pimpama home in January 2017.
Former council candidate Jenna Schroeder, who attended the rally, said a strong message was sent.
“Violence against women is a crisis in this country,” Ms Schroeder said. “The solution is not to tell women to be careful in the dark, to dress a certain way, or to ‘just leave’. We need cultural and systemic change, and to address the attitudes and behaviours towards women.
“It was heartbreaking to hear some of the stories at today’s rally. It’s time for our communities and government to pay attention.”
The Gold Coast rally was one of a dozen across Australia organised by non-profit group What Were You Wearing?
Premier Steven Miles and Opposition leader David Crisafulli were among thousands who marched in Brisbane, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told protesters in Canberra that Australia “must do better”.