Tens of thousands of women (and allies) are planning to attend Women’s March 4 Justice rallies all around Australia on Monday. The snap rallies were called following separate allegations of rape made by former staffer Brittany Higgins and against Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Marches have been organised in more than 36 locations across Australia, while in Canberra a petition with more than 93,000 signatures will be delivered to Parliament House.
The petition organisers, Dr Kate Ahmad and Dr Anita Hutchison, are calling for Porter’s immediate suspension while an independent inquiry is run, as well as for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stop using language which trivialises rape. “We ask that he commit to believing women,” the petition says.
Another demand, that the government commission an independent review into the culture of Parliament House, has already been met, with Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins appointed to run it.
The PM offered to hold a meeting with the march organisers today, but they rejected it.
“We have already come to the front door, now it’s up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us,” march organiser Janine Hendry tweeted.
“We will not be meeting behind closed doors.”
Keen to get to a march today? Here’s all the details we have so far.
ACT
Canberra: Parliament House, Upper Federation Mall, grassed area opp. main public entrance to Parliament House at 12pm
NSW
Sydney: Sydney Town Hall at 12pm
Albury: QE2 Square – 546 Dean St Albury at 12pm
Armidale: Mall Stage – Beardy st, near cnr Faulkner st & Post Office at 12pm
Bega: Kisses Lagoon at 12pm
Bellingen: Maam Gaduying Meeting Place Park at 11am
Byron: Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall at 12pm
Coffs Harbour: City Square – Coffs Harbour at 12pm (TBC)
Iluka: Country Women’s Association at 12pm
Lismore: Pride Corner – next to Lismore Transit Centre at 12pm
Newcastle: Civic Park – King st, Newcastle at 12pm
Nowra: Jellbean park, Egans Lane at 2pm
Taree: Fotheringham Park at 12pm
Wagga Wagga: King George Gardens – Ovens St at 12pm
VIC
Melbourne: The State Library, 328 Swanston Street at 12pm
Ballarat: Alfred Deakin Place, Camp st, Ballarat at 12pm
Bendigo: View Point / Rosalind Park piazza Bendigo at 12pm
Geelong: Geelong Trades Hall -127 Myers St Geelong at 5.30pm
Rosebud: Rosebud Pier at 12pm
Torquay: Front Beach Torquay at 8am
Wangaratta: King George Gardens – Ovens St at 12pm
Warrnambool:Civic Green, Cnr Liebig & Timor St, Warrnambool – Circle of Solidarity, not a march at 12pm
Wodonga: Workers Memorial Rock, Sumsion Gardens, Church St Wodonga at 6pm
QLD
Brisbane: King George Square at 12pm
Bundaberg: Bundaberg Courthouse, 44 Quay St at 4.30pm
Cairns: Fogarty Park – The Esplanade on 14 March at 4pm
Sunshine Coast: Cotton Tree Park, The Esplanade, opp. Second Avenue at 4pm
Toowoomba: Cnr of Margaret & Hume St (in Queens Park) at 12pm
Townsville: Illich Park, Aittkenvale, next/opposite to The Women’s Centre at 118 Charles Street at 3.30pm
SA
Adelaide: Victoria Square starting at 12pm
NT
Darwin: Raintree Park – Knuckey St end of Smith St Mall at 12pm
Alice Springs: Court Lawns at 1pm
WA
Perth: Starting at Forrest Place in the city centre from 11am on 14 March
Bunbury: Anzac Park (in front of Library) Bunbury CBD at 1pm
TAS
Hobart: Parliament House lawn at 12pm
If you’re heading along to a march, check your local Facebook event for any COVID restrictions, and make sure to bring along a face mask (as well as water, comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen).
For more details, head here.
