Albanese speaks against domestic violence

At a march against domestic violence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his administration “must do better” and that men’s behavior needs to improve because violence is “a problem of our entire society.”

Alongside Ministers of Finance and Women Katy Gallagher and Social Services Amanda Rishworth, Mr. Albanese participated in the Canberra leg of a nationwide walkathon late on Sunday afternoon to urge an end to gender-based violence.

The PM had not planned to speak at the event but stood up to do so after an event organizer pointed him out in the crowd and asked him to commit to specific policy actions, including issuing a legal declaration that family violence is a national emergency.

Mr. Albanese told the crowd the national emergency declaration was a short-term legal avenue intended for use in natural disasters but said family violence was a “national crisis”.

“We need to change the culture. We need to change attitudes. We need to change the legal system. We need to change the approach by all governments, because it’s not enough to support victims. We need to focus on the perpetrators and focus on prevention,” he said.