Christie Hayes calls out Anthony Albanese's gender violence response

News.com.au

09-05-2025

An actor and radio host has called out the Australian government over how it's handled violence against women, saying the prime minister should be forced to inform families.
Femicide Watch reported that 14 Australian women — and four children — have been killed in 2025 due to murder, manslaughter or neglect. Last year, per online feminist group Destroy the Joint, there were 79 – making it the worst 12 months on record for gendered violence in Australia since 2016.
The heartbreaking death toll is increasingly becoming a point of anger and frustration for Australians — who have demanded change from police, court, mental health and support services as a result of this horrifying issue.
Christie Hayes, who is the co-host of Hit 100.9 Hobart's breakfast radio show, took to the airwaves on Wednesday to add her voice to the outrage.
'I've said it before and I'll say it again. I truly believe that the next time we lose a women in Australia, our prime minister should knock on the door, he should sit the families down and he should sit the kids down and say, 'Kids, I'm really sorry but Mummy is not coming home',' she said.
She said newly re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should be forced to make the funeral arrangements and have conversations, such as around puberty, that a mother would typically handle with her children. Ms Hayes argued that with great power comes great responsibility.
'After doing this just one time, he would make a change because nothing makes someone change like doing something they don't want to do,' the former Home And Away star said.
She said statistically, she could end up on that list because she is one of four girls. Ms Hayes said women have the right to exist — whether that's at home or on the train or anywhere in public — and hearing stories of women being attacked is 'ripping her heart out'.
Ms Hayes — and co-host Dan Taylor — both lived on the New South Wales Central Coast, where 19-year-old navy recruit Audrey Griffin was murdered while walking home after a night out with friends. Her body was found on a creek bed. Her death was initially ruled as an accident but Adrian Torrens, who has since died in prison, was charged with her murder.
'The justice system let everyone down by that guy even being on the streets — and he had a violent history,' Mr Taylor said.
'We want to live in a world free from violence and abuse and you and I will be marching this weekend to end violence against women because enough is enough and she's not with us right now.'
Ms Hayes said Audrey was just 19, and stories such as hers 'happens all the time in this country'.
'It's time that we make noise about it and I'm glad we're doing this on air, and we're going to keep doing this on air until we see change,' she said.
'I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It is up to our prime minister — the man who wanted to be the parent of this country. He has the keys to our house, he needs to be the one to fix this. That's what he signed up to do. He asked us all to vote for him, and the majority of us did.'
news.com.au contacted the Prime Minister's office for comment.
In the last year, the government announced a $4.7 billion dollar plan to bolster frontline services for those fleeing domestic violence. State governments were also contributors to this amount.
Around $800 million will go to legal aid services.
'We know that a nationally co-ordinated approach is required to address this national crisis,' the Prime Minister said during the announcement.
'We must act to ensure women are safe. These horrific and disturbing deaths and vile violence must be prevented.'
Funds will not flow into these services until 1 July, 2025.
This also included funding into the Leaving Violence Program (formerly known as the Escaping Violence Program).
Under the scheme, women who are fleeing male violence can access a one-off $5000 emergency assistance payment through social service provider UnitingCare Network, of which $1500 is in cash and $3500 comes on a prepaid card for goods and services.
It also gives victim-survivors access to safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other essential services for up to 12 weeks.
However, many were left disappointed by the lack of funds given to domestic violence services in the federal budget held before the election.
Phillip Ripper, the CEO of No To Violence said all the government did on Budget Night was share already announced commitments.
'This was called the 'cost of living' budget. But the budget ignored the cost of men's family violence and the cost of women and children living in fear. That's what tens of thousands of women and children are doing tonight,' he said.
While some elements were welcomed — such as governments investments in improving access to family law systems — were welcomed. But, the money simply was not enough to meet demand.