This open letter to Anthony Albanese was written by an anonymous member of the Mum Central community in response to the latest domestic violence victim, Molly Ticehurst.
An open letter to Anthony Albanese
Dear Mr Albanese,
I pen these words with trembling hands, a heavy heart, and tears streaming down my face, but with a determination fuelled by the pain and anguish that I, as a survivor of domestic violence, have endured. I write not just for myself, but for countless women across our nation who suffer in silence, trapped in a cycle of fear and abuse. I write for the 26 women who have already lost their lives this year.
I implore you to listen to our voices, to heed our cries for justice, and to take bold action to end the epidemic of violence against women that plagues our society. For too long, we have been ignored, dismissed, and failed by a system that should protect us.
I was one of the fortunate ones who found the strength to break free from my abuser, but I carry the scars of my trauma with me every day. The physical wounds may heal, but the emotional scars run deep, a constant reminder of the terror I endured behind closed doors.
Prime Minister, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of women like me.
We cannot afford to prioritise politics over people, or to remain silent in the face of injustice. The time for action is now. Not just with “spin” or a broken promise, but with action, and a fierce determination to break the cycle.
I urge you to stand with survivors and advocates in the fight against domestic violence. I urge you to champion policies and initiatives that will protect women from harm, hold abusers accountable for their actions, and provide survivors with the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives.
We need stronger laws that prioritise the safety and well-being of victims, not the comfort and convenience of perpetrators.
We need better-funded support services, including shelters, hotlines, and counselling, that are accessible to all women, regardless of their background or circumstances.
We need education, starting from schools, talking to our children, and teaching them that violence is not the answer.
But most importantly, we need leadership that is willing to confront the uncomfortable truths about gender-based violence and to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that enable it to persist.
We need leaders who will not shy away from difficult conversations or political backlash, but who will stand firm in their commitment to ending violence against women once and for all. The police do a great job; however, the justice system seems to then crumble. We need stronger laws to remove the right to bail for persistent offenders.
Prime Minister, I urge you to be that leader. I urge you to listen to the voices of survivors, to amplify our stories, and to take decisive action to create a future where no woman has to live in fear within her own home or whilst running on the streets, or walking home from a night out.
Our lives depend on it. Let’s not let the 26 women who have died this year, or the names of the many others who have died before all be in vain.
With hope for a better tomorrow, remembering these 26 domestic violence victims:
Emma Bates, 49. Found dead inside her home earlier this week. Her neighbour John Torney, 39, has been charged over her death.
Molly Ticehurt, 28. Murdered by ex-partner, Daniel Billings, 29. He was out on bail with an apprehended violence order and a ban on entering Forbes where she lived.
Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jane Young, 47, Ashlee Good, 38, Yixuan Cheng, 27. Stabbed to death in the Bondi Junction rampage by Joel Cauchi, 40.
Chaithanya Madhagani. Body found dumped in Victoria. Her husband has since left Australia. No one has been charged.
Joanne Perry, 53. Stabbed to death by her daughter, Carly Pironelli, 26. She had flagged concerns about her daughter’s mental health prior to her murder.
Unnamed woman, 60. Stabbed to death and her body dumped in the boot of a car in New South Wales. Her son is charged with her murder.
Samantha Murphy, 51. Killed while on a run in Victoria. A 22-year-old has been charged with Samantha’s murder.
Natasha Nibizi, 29. Killed in her home in Queensland. It’s believed she was murdered by her former partner, Habib Bayat. After killing Natasha, Bayat ended his own life.
Bonnie Lee Anderson, 39. Died in hospital 16 months after she was attacked by her former partner, Daryl Allan Robertson, in ACT.
Samira Kamaleddine, 81. Died almost five weeks after she was beaten and choked at the Bankstown Hospital, New South Wales. A man is charged with her murder.
Amarjit Kaur Sardar. Allegedly killed by her husband in Queensland.
Rebecca Young, 42. Stabbed to death by her partner, Ian Butler, in Victoria.
Min (Sue) Cho, 41. Strangled to death at Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy.
Donna Baraket. Killed at home in New South Wales. Her tenant is charged with her murder.
Antoinette (Toni) Tozer, 76, and her son, Steven Tozer, 55. Allegedly killed at home in South Australia. A neighbour is charged with their murders.
Vyleen White, 70. Allegedly stabbed to death at the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, Redbank Plains, Queensland. A 16-year-old male is charged with her murder.
Alana Martin, 30. Killed in her home in Queensland. Her partner has been charged with her murder.
Keira Marshall, 29. Died from a gunshot wound in Queensland. An 18-year-old has been charged.
Alison (Ali) Robinson, 39. Died in a fire at her home in Tasmania. A man is charged with her murder.
Nerol Doble, 65. Killed in a fire at her home in New South Wales. Her son is charged with her murder and other offences.
Janice Walker, 68. It’s suspected Janice was killed by her partner who also ended his own life.
This needs to stop. Now.
Know someone affected by domestic and family violence?
If you are experiencing abuse or violence, it is not your fault. There are support services that can help you. If your life is in danger, call 000. For 24/7 domestic violence counselling, call the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Men who have anger, relationship, or parenting issues should contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or the Don’t Become That Man helpline on 1300 243 413.
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