Originally published: Port Macquarie News, 10 September 2026
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.
