Aziz Al Sa'afin: Australia’s deadly delay in tackling gendered violence

Analysis: The Australian Government’s plan to help victims of violence has come too late for the many women who have already been allegedly killed by men this year, writes Aziz Al Sa'afin.

It's January 5, 2024. Tasmania police are called to a home in the town of Glenorchy following reports a house is on fire. They later confirm 39-year-old Alison Robinson has been found dead in the blaze.

Her husband is arrested as a suspect, and later pleads not guilty to murder and arson.

Three days later, New South Wales authorities are called to a house fire in the town of Bribbaree. There, they find 65-year-old Nerol Doble, still alive but severely burned. She dies in hospital the next morning.

Police allege her son deliberately lit the fire and charge him with three domestic violence offences, including murder.

Almost three weeks later, Brisbane emergency services are called to a unit in the town of Morayfield. Twenty-nine-year-old Keira Marshall is lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. She is still alive, but not for long.

Police arrest an 18-year-old man who is known to her and later charge him with murder.

For the next four months, this becomes a recurring story. Different names, different situations, but all linked by a common thread - women being violently killed in Australia.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the situation as a "scourge" plaguing his country, calling on everyone to "do better".

But on April 28, by which point one woman had been killed every four days in 2024, the country said enough.

Tens of thousands of people across almost every state marched in the streets, demanding action from those in power.

Protesters said instead of spouting phrases like "national crisis", create a solution.

Instead of offering condolences to victims’ families, offer up laws to stop the "scourge".

The following week, Cabinet held an emergency meeting over the spike in gendered violence.

It discussed action and new legislation to help not only those trapped in abusive relationships, but to educate adolescents and help change their attitudes towards women. It committed a billion dollars over five years to this cause.

It pledged to create real pathways for support, risk assessments, and safety planning.

New laws were announced, putting more onus on social media companies, and banning deep-fake pornography, which some experts say leads to violent behaviour in teenage boys.

Around $6.5 million was also committed to creating pilot technologies with the aim of protecting children online and reducing their exposure to harmful content, something Australia's women's safety commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin, said could make meaningful change.

Tonkin said boys are often exposed to violent pornography at an age when they’re developing their attitudes about women and relationships.

So, big money and big moves.

It is a step, at least, in the right direction.

But experts have long called for a bipartisan approach to addressing violence against women. The reality is it has come too late to save the nearly 30 women already killed in Australia this year – and all the others before them.