Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 15 March I attended the 'She Matters: Stop Killing Women' rally in Bendigo. I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the organisers, Bonnie, Kristal and Felicity, and thank them for inviting me to say a few words on behalf of the people of Bendigo. About 100 women and their supporters attended the rally, some of whom shared their stories or the stories of loved ones that they had lost, particularly at the hands of an ex-partner.

These are some of the messages that they asked me to share with this place:

Don't force my children to see the perpetrator of my abuse—

and:

We thought she was safe. She reported it but then she wasn't—

These are some of the messages from the young women who attended the rally:

I was brave and told grown ups about the bad things that had happened but no one is listening to me—

and:

Grownups told my mum she had to take me to the man who abused me. I told police. I was brave but now I'm scared.

The Centre for Non-Violence was there and received several referrals and requests for assistance. As of 25 March 2025, the Australian Femicide Watch tally indicates 14 women have died as a result of family and domestic violence, as well as four children. One life lost is too many. We must do better.