Content warning: This article contains references to sexual violence.
‘It’s amazing to know that I’m not the only person who feels this angry,’ says Alice Williams, as she looks at the crowd around us in Treasury Gardens on Monday 15 March. She’s not.
There were more than 5,000 people at Treasury Gardens. Across Australia, there were 40 marches from Adelaide to Wagga Wagga. All in, 100,000 people were involved either in person or signing a petition demanding change and accountability.
It may be the biggest uprising of women that this country has seen, and it happened quickly. ‘Is it possible to form a ring of people around the perimeter of (Parliament House?)’ tweeted Janine Hendry, an academic, designer and feminist on 25 February.
Hendry wanted to mobilise the many ‘extremely disgruntled’ women in the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s failure to call an enquiry over the rape allegations of Attorney-General Christian Porter, and the government’s collective failing over the rape reported by ex-Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
This is my first in-person demonstration in years. For me, the culmination of women’s names in the news: Brittany Higgins, Grace Tame, Katharine Thornton, was a powerful reminder of the constancy of sexual abuse.
Between us, Alice and I have packed off four kids, cleared up breakfast mayhems, and shoved lunches into our backpacks to be here. It feels less optional to be here now.
'Between us, Alice and I have packed off four kids, cleared up breakfast mayhems, and shoved lunches into our backpacks to be here. It feels less optional to be here now.'
At the top of the hill, sitting on a bench, are three friends holding signs that say: #IBelieveHer, #ScottyKnew, #JusticeForKate, #March4Justice. Helen Fox, 75, from Warrandyte, Julie Grint, 66 and in a witch’s hat, from Templestowe, and Kammy Cordner, 62 and just in from Mansfield, are veterans of protesting for women.
‘I’ve been protesting for human rights for decades, and women’s rights are human rights,’ says Helen, a domestic violence survivor. ‘I want justice for Kate, justice for Brittany. I know they’re not lying.’
Kate was the woman who the Attorney-General Christian Porter is alleged to have raped in 1988. Kate was 16, Porter was 17, and they were on the same debating team. It is a case that divides men's and women's experiences, because Porter remains Attorney-General, and Kate suicided last year.
‘This is about the injustice of the justice system,’ says Kammy. ‘The women and children who’ve had to witness terrible things and lost their innocence, and yet Christian Porter has just assumed righteousness. The patriarchy is doing everything they can to discredit the innocent.’
‘You cannot have [alleged] predators as policy makers,’ says Tanja Kovac, CEO of Gender Equity Victoria the next day. ‘This is about allowing violence.’
The Prime Minister’s underwhelming reaction to Hendry’s March 4 Justice, to Brittany Higgins, to accusations about Christian Porter, are a considered play by Morrison to maintain his electoral base, says Kovac.
‘Morrison is playing Russian roulette,’ says Kovac. ‘He sees that there is a solid block of votes, men who are not happy about "uppity women", who are not happy about pushback on economic security, and who don’t think that safety for women is important. Voters who helped get him elected and who don’t think that feminism is much cop for this country.’
Kovac continues, ‘He’s misread how widespread what happened in Parliament is, and the symbolism in the day-to-day life of women who’ve just carried the burden of COVID-19 for this nation. We deserve way more than this.
‘The existing systems do not serve women when they’re under physical attack and, running parallel, is a sense that our economic equality leaves something to be desired. That really hit home during COVID.'
For the CEO of Gender Equity, #EnoughisEnough means: ‘Can we address the injustice of the justice system, which is supposed to be keeping us safe? Can we address the economic inequalities that still means women are missing out on prosperity?’
Hendry’s March 4 Justice came out of digital activism because that is the only space where women can organise in safety, says Kovac.
Now we have a situation where many women are very angry, and Scott Morrison points out that we’re lucky not to be in Myanmar. What can we do?
‘Lawful protests between election cycles are so important because sometimes it’s the only way to get politicians to make a change,’ Kovac explains. ‘The political will is driven by electoral fear.’
What do Helen, Julie, and Kammy want? They want to see the allegations have consequences. ‘Women suffer from these acts, men don’t,’ says Kammy.
‘I want to see him sacked!’ says Julie, referring to the Attorney-General Christian Porter.
‘He has to prove his innocence,’ Helen says.
‘It’s always us. Don’t walk the streets at night. Don’t do this, or that. I’m sick of all the defensive crap,’ says Julie.
When I leave the rally, there is a bride and groom coming out of the Treasury for their wedding photos. ‘Don’t marry him! Today is not the day!’ cries out Monique, who came today with friends Jude and Jeanette. We all laugh, and I really hope to see them at another demonstration, soon.
Women marched across Australia in March 2021 because they deserved better. We deserve better from our nation’s leaders, and we’re willing to show up and prove it.
Fernanda Fain-Binda is a freelance writer and mother of two based in Melbourne. She is donating part of her writers fee to Safe Steps, the family violence response centre.
If you or someone you know is in crisis you can call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732.
Main image: Protestors, Helen and Julie, with signs reading 'March4Justice, JusticeforKate, IBelieveHer, IBelieveBrittany, ScottyKnew' (Supplied)