The federal government's response to "devastating" gender-based violence news in recent weeks has not been adequate, according to a poll.
Against the backdrop of allegations against Sydney Swans players, Scots College students and research on widespread sexism and misogyny among young boys, the Women and Girls' Emergency Centre (WAGEC) surveyed 1008 Australian adults.
Only 27 per cent said they felt the government's response over the past month to these high-profile reports had been adequate.
Forty-two per cent said the response had been very inadequate or somewhat inadequate, 20 per cent were neutral and 11 per cent unsure, according to the Pureprofile survey conducted between September 4 and 6.
"The response to the devastating headlines that have dominated the news over recent weeks simply does not meet the moment," WAGEC chief executive Nicole Yade said.
The most prominent federal response came from Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who condemned responses from the Swans and Scots College as falling "alarmingly short" and choosing passive and exculpatory language.
View this post on Instagram
This includes the school describing the alleged rape of a child as "an incident that occurred outside school hours" and Swans' CEO saying players "found themselves" in a situation, which police are now investigating as an alleged sexual assault.
Another poll of 1012 adults, conducted in July, found 71 per cent said the government had responded "much too slowly" or "somewhat too slowly" since domestic and family violence was declared a national crisis in 2024.
More than six in 10 (62 per cent) believed not enough was being done to prevent domestic and family violence before it occurred, while 55 per cent believed the government should accelerate prevention efforts immediately.
"Two years after the government declared domestic and family violence a national crisis, Australians are clear that the pace of change does not match the scale of the crisis," Ms Yade said.
"They understand that ending violence requires sustained investment in prevention, frontline services and long-term reform.
"They're also prepared to back that investment because they know the cost of inaction is far too high."
She said the federal government's Second Action Plan to End Violence against Women and Children was an opportunity to respond to this "clear public mandate" with renewed ambition and sustainable investment.
"This isn't about overlooking the important investments governments have already made," she said.
"It's about Australians giving governments the strong possible mandate to build on that work by taking urgent action on domestic and family violence and investing in the solutions needed to prevent violence, support victim-survivors and strengthen our response."
WAGEC will hold its seventh annual walk calling for an end to gender-based violence at Sydney's Centennial Park on Sunday, with 3000 people expected.
Speakers on the day will include anti-gender violence activists and campaigners Brittany Higgins and Tarang Chawla.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
