Hundreds March To Protest Violence Against Women Following Audrey Griffin’s Death

Approximately 500 enraged citizens marched in Gosford yesterday (Sunday 27 April), braving the rain to protest violence against women following the alleged murder of Audrey Griffin in March.

19-year-old Griffin was allegedly murdered by Adrian Noel Torrens, who was serving a community corrections order and had previously breached apprehended violence orders. The alleged murder prompted calls for less leniency toward offenders in sentencing, and anger that it took the death of another woman to once again bring the issue of violence against women to the fore.

Torrens was found dead in his prison cell three days before the rally. Police said his death was not suspicious.

Australian Femicide Watch counts the death of 24 women across the country this year. Accordingly, protestors chanted: “Twenty-four too many! How many more? Stop killing women! Change the law!”

Organisers called on marchers to show “rage” and “fury” whilst demanding action to protect women.

Brianna Harvey, chief marketing officer of non-profit What Were You Wearing Australia, said the rally was about “making a loud enough noise that people acknowledge what’s going on, specifically people in power.”

“We need to remember the people that we’ve lost, not the people who caused that loss.”

“Twenty-four is not just ‘too many’ – it’s a national crisis, it is national grief.”

“A lot of women, particularly young women, are scared right now and we want to show up and say we’re in this together.”

Sarah Williams, the organisation’s chief executive, lamented the alleged murderer’s release from custody prior to the death of Griffin.

“How are people who have breached their AVOs not a danger to the community? A lot of the community is angry and devastated,” Williams told protestors.

“This should be one of the core topics spoken about by political parties.”

She noted that some of the organisers were as young as 15 and 16. She said that children “should not have to be caring about these things and organising them.”

Petition demands action from government on violence against women

Prior to the rally, organisers circulated a petition demanding the prime minister, opposition leader and other candidates commit to urgent action.

“Nearly one year ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared violence against women a national emergency,” the petition notes.

“Since then, the crisis has only deepened, and now, during an election campaign when leadership is needed most, your silence is deafening.”

The government and opposition only outlined their commitments to protect women, building on the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, in late April. Neither party has committed to multi-year funding models for frontline services, one of the petition’s demands.

“We are outraged that the leading candidates for Prime Minister have failed to speak publicly about domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia during this election period,” the petition continues.

“It is unacceptable, especially as women continue to be killed every week, children are traumatised by violence, and survivors are being turned away from services due to lack of funding.”