A petition of demands specific to the New England electorate has been delivered to both state and federal MPs by the Armidale Women's March4Justice attendees.
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On Monday, women and allies gathered in Armidale to make their voices heard and call on elected representatives to act against gendered violence in Parliament, workplaces, families and communities.
Hundreds attended the event in Armidale Beardy Street Mall with placards to listen to speakers before walking to MP Adam Marshall's office to deliver a letter of demands that they later emailed to MP Barnaby Joyce.
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"We marched to end gendered violence," said Armidale rally organiser Armidale Bobbijo Harrison.
"Now we need to ensure our elected representatives listen."
As well as demanding support for the March4 Justice national petition the group listed additional items specific to the New England electorate.
These included increased funding and resources for regional frontline women's support services such as the Women's Shelter in Armidale and increased funding for regional community safety programs (including the Armidale CBD and bike path lighting and CCTV camera projects) to make communities safer for women, especially at night.
"We also want improved education programs on consent throughout all levels of schooling, including tertiary education," said Ms Harrison.
"And greater support for regional women entering politics, so that the needs of regional women can be better represented at all levels of government."
Support for programs to empower regional women in business and leadership, and improved training and resourcing of regional police officers on trauma-sensitive handling of gendered violence crime were also on the list.
We ask that you support these demands and use your position to support these and other measures aimed at ending gendered violence, improving gender equality, educating men and women about misogyny and supporting all women.
Mr Marshall told the Express he would have liked to have been available to receive the petition personally, and speak with those involved in the event, but was in Sydney for a meeting of the NSW Cabinet ahead of the parliamentary sitting week.
"The organisers of the Armidale March4Justice were very respectful, making contact with my office well before the event so I was aware their event was taking place and that they planned on visiting my office to present me with a document, as the Federal Member for New England does not have an office presence in Armidale," Mr Marshall said.
"I thank those involved for their submission, which was received on my behalf by a senior member of staff.
"I haven't sighted the petition, but upon my return to the electorate at the end of the week, I'll take the opportunity to read it thoroughly and respond in due course."
MP Barnaby Joyce told the Express he was one of the only people in the Coalition calling for an inquiry.
"It's not making me popular on my own side of politics, but I've called for an inquiry because I think that it's the most dignified way to deal with such a complex issue that is currently going through a demeaning, cathartic dissonance in the public arena," Mr Joyce said.
"I did attend the march in Canberra.
"Overwhelmingly people were very respectful.
"Unfortunately, as you can see from the photos, some people were just using it as more of a political march than the more serious issue they are dealing with.
"That's politics."
Ms Harrison said marching in Armidale was just the beginning of ensuring women are listened to and heard.
"The next thing we need to do is follow up with our elected representatives and continue to pressure them to listen to our voices and follow through on our demands," she said.
"We can do this via email, phone calls and mail.
"We can't let our state and federal MPs move on and ignore us."
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