On 15 March 2021, more than 100,000 people across Australia marched in peaceful solidarity demanding justice, equality and safety for all.

 

Hundreds of thousands more supported this demand from their homes, workplaces and many other locations around the country and indeed, around the world.

 

Some 10,500 of these everyday Australians walked right up to the front door of the Australian Parliament House, the people’s house, asking that you listen and stand with us.

 

Dozens of MPs, Senators and their staff, together with journalists and public servants, left the building in response to our call. They came out and stood with us.

 

They listened to our many diverse, intersectional speakers give voice to the rage, despair and desperate cries for respect that so many people across Australia are feeling. They listened to Brittany Higgins.

 

You did not. The Minister for Women did not.

 

From the time the ABC’s Four Corners first began to shine a light on what has subsequently been exposed as one of the most unsafe, harmful and toxic workplaces cultures in this country, your responses have been at best inadequate, and at worst, served to compound the trauma of so very many people.

 

You have not listened, you have not shown respect, you have not acted to protect anyone other than yourself in pursuit of your own political self-interest in these matters.

 

You are still not listening.

 

With media reports suggesting that you are about to reshuffle your cabinet, now would be a good time to start.

 

Start by removing Christian Porter from your cabinet pending resolution of the allegations of rape for which he stands accused. Give all parties the opportunity to resolve these allegations by immediately (as in today) instigating an independent inquiry into these matters.

 

If you cannot judge for yourself whether he is a fit and proper person to serve, then ask someone better qualified and less personally conflicted to do so. A reshuffle simply isn’t enough.

 

Second, fully support the Minister for Women to listen, to engage with us and to act, starting with the urgent implementation of every recommendation in Respect@Work and many other much needed reforms. Empower the Minister to advance the rights of us all.

 

Third, call a general election. We have lost all confidence in your government.  We also call on any lower house MP to introduce a motion of no confidence in the government.  

 

#EnoughIsEnough.

 

It is time to let the Australian people decide whether you, and every MP and Senator who has been elected to serve them, deserve the opportunity to continue doing so in light of what we now know about your conduct.

We would urge ALL political parties to field a diverse, inclusive and intersectional field of candidates, including in ‘safe’ seats to ensure that the 47th Parliament of Australia is a truly representative one.