Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday declared violence against women a “scourge” and a “national crisis”, days after protests in several major cities.
Meeting state premiers, Anthony Albanese announced a raft of measures and funding to tackle “toxic male extremist views”, curb deep fake pornography and fund help for victims.
Albanese told Australians that “we all have to take responsibility” for stamping out violence.
So far this year, 28 women have been killed in the country — an average of one death every four days.
By comparison, 14 women died in the same period last year.
The deaths have sparked a reckoning, with domestic violence survivors and support services demanding stricter laws at nationwide protests last week.
Albanese on Wednesday announced new legislation to ban deep fake pornography and additional funding for the country’s online watchdog to pilot age assurance technologies.
He also announced Aus$925 million (US$598 million) in funding to bolster support services for those fleeing violent situations.
