'Need to do more': Leaders call for change against domestic violence

Man charged over violent home invasion in Melbourne’s east

Politicians from across the country have vowed more needs to be done to address domestic violence in Australia.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan addressed the media today, saying the state government had a “responsibility to both lead and act”.

At least 26 women have died from alleged gender-based violence in Australia, 11 more than last year.

Samantha Murphy, Hannah McGuire and Rebecca Young were all allegedly murdered in seperate incidents.

Those women include Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young, Hannah McGuire, Swetha Madhagani, and more recently Molly Ticehurst.

Allan vowed to seek solutions and said it was clear the government “needed to do more”.

“Already we have seen this year, far too many women lose their lives at the hand of a current or former partner or a complete stranger,” she said.

“We have been working very hard with organisations across the state for a number of years, implementing the royal commission recommendations, working hard investing more and running programs in our schools.

“But we know we have to do more. This simply has to stop.”

Allan said making changes to the legal and justice system are some options being considered by ministers.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has called for more to be done to adress gender-based violence in Australia.

Federal Labor MP Bill Shorten mirrored the Victorian premier’s sentiment, telling Today that it was up to men to pull each other up.

“It is shocking, frustrating and it’s domestic,” he said.

“Violence is not new and there’s been a lot of work done on it by a lot of people.

“But we’re not improving the numbers. One woman being killed every four days, and in many cases by people who claim to have loved them. It’s sick.

“We are trying a whole range of measures on prevention, early intervention, crisis response and healing and recovery.

“This government, which I belong to, has invested more than any previous government. But some men are not getting the message.”

According to Our Watch, 39 per cent of women nationally have experienced violence since the age of 15.

About 27 per cent have experienced violence, emotional abuse, or economic abuse by a cohabitating partner since the age of 15.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said all sides of government needed to work together and do everything they could.

“There’s record amounts of money being put in each year. There’s bipartisan support to do whatever we humanly can to resolve the issue,” he said.

“But society is failing at the moment.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this week said he would take “every measure” possible to address chronic rates of domestic violence in Australia.

It comes as thousands of people are expected to attend rallies across the country this weekend, calling for an end to gender-based violence.

The No More: National Rally Against Violence has been organised by What Were You Wearing following a spate of attacks on women including the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing.

National Domestic Violence Service: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).If you are in immediate danger call triple zero (000).