A passionate group of Cairns residents has marched through the city streets, adding their voices to the growing outcry against Queensland's escalating gender-based violence crisis.
The protest, while smaller in numbers, carried immense emotional weight as community members gathered at Fogarty Park before moving through the CBD. Their message was clear: Queensland's current approach to gender-based violence is failing, and immediate action is needed.
Queensland's Disturbing Statistics
The march comes amid shocking revelations that Queensland accounts for nearly one-quarter of all Australian women killed by intimate partners this year. This sobering statistic has ignited fury and fear across the state, with Cairns residents demanding their community doesn't become another statistic.
Protesters carried signs reading "No More" and "Enough is Enough," echoing the sentiment felt in communities nationwide following several high-profile domestic violence deaths.
Calls for Concrete Action
Organisers and participants weren't just seeking symbolic gestures—they demanded tangible solutions. Key concerns raised during the protest included:
- Inadequate funding for frontline domestic violence services
- Lack of appropriate housing for women and children fleeing violence
- Systemic failures in protecting vulnerable community members
- Urgent need
Many speakers emphasized that regional communities like Cairns face unique challenges, with limited access to support services compared to metropolitan areas.
A Statewide Movement Gains Momentum
The Cairns protest aligns with growing community anger across Queensland. Recent weeks have seen similar demonstrations in Brisbane and other regional centers, all calling for immediate government intervention.
The Queensland government faces mounting pressure to address what many are calling a domestic violence epidemic. With community patience wearing thin, the message from Cairns is unmistakable: the time for empty promises has passed, and concrete action can no longer wait.
