This Saturday, thousands across cities and towns in Australia will rally to demand strong action on gendered violence.
Organised by grassroots collective What Were You Wearing, the ‘No More: National Rally Against Violence’ comes after a devastating start to the year—24 women have allegedly been killed by violence in 2025 according to Australian Femicide Watch.
The rallies will take place in every state and territory, led by survivors, volunteers, advocates and families who’ve lost loved ones to male violence. Their message is clear: the crisis of gendered violence is escalating, and governments must be pressured to meaningfully act.
As What Were You Wearing announced this week: “Women’s rights are under attack in Australia. Women are being murdered at alarming rates and there has been silence from our government.”
The ‘No More’ rallies will call on governments to fully fund frontline domestic violence services, expand crisis accommodation, and fund primary prevention programs targeting male violence at its roots. A key demand this year is the introduction of mandatory trauma-informed training for all first responders. Organisers have launched a Change.org petition in support of this vital step in improving frontline responses to victim-survivors.
Crucially, this weekend’s mobilisation comes at a politically significant moment. Following a landslide Labor victory in the recent election, there’s a danger of complacency — or fatigue with the relentless demands of activism. But as organisers have pointed out, last year’s rallies led to real, tangible change. They know it can happen again, and believe now is the time to stay loud, visible and unrelenting.
These events are pulled together in a short amount of time and are powered by passionate, committed individuals from communities across the country. It’s a reminder of the strength in grassroots action, and how ordinary people can make change when they refuse to accept the status quo.
The violence feels relentless, and the fight to end it is gruelling. But this weekend’s rallies are a reminder that change only comes when we refuse to give in.
Rallies will be held this Saturday, 10 May in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and regional centres. Full details are available via What Were You Wearing Australia.
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