After the death of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found on a Queensland beach on Monday and Kristie Powell, who was murdered in front of her five-month-old baby earlier this month, Carrie Bickmore is calling for violence against women to be treated as a national crisis.
“Australians are great in a crisis, we’re renowned for our ability to pull together in bad times,” The Project host started. “But there’s one crisis right now that is slowly unfolding in relative silence.”
Carrie went on to pull out some shocking statistics, revealing that in 2018 alone, 57 women have been killed.
“Just this month, at least 10 women have been killed at the hands of violent perpetrators. Six of them in just five days,” she said to the camera.
“Sure these murders have been shown on news bulletins, but they haven’t got the whole country talking. 57 women have been murdered this year.”
“Is it just that we’ve become so used to women dying through violence that we’ve run out of words?” Carrie asked.
The Project went on to show the images of some of the women who have lost their lives this year – 57-year-old Kristie Powell, 46-year-old Gayle Potter, 32-year-old Nicole Cartwright, 43-year-old Erana Nahu and 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley.
Carrie points out that the data The Project used for the segment was taken from an organisation called Counting Dead Women Australia, saying that though they do an incredible job, it’s heartbreaking that there’s a need for it to exist in Australia.
If you are impacted by assault, domestic or family violence call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
