Australia is in the midst of a crisis of male violence, the nation’s attorney general said.

In a speech at a family violence event on Friday, Mark Dreyfus called on men in Australia to step up and prevent violence against women.

“We have a crisis of male violence in Australia. It is a scourge in our society, and it must end,” he said.

Mr Dreyfus added, “To create lasting change, women cannot be expected to solve violence against women alone.”

He urged men to educate themselves, their children, and colleagues on preventing and working together to address the menace.

“It’s time for men to step up. It’s our responsibility to educate ourselves, our sons, our colleagues, and our friends,” said the attorney general.

His speech comes in the wake of a stabbing spree at a shopping centre in Sydney earlier on Saturday, where Joel Cauchi killed six people, including five women.

Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese on Monday described the gender breakdown of Mr Cauchi’s victims as concerning, and New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it was obvious he had targeted women.

The attack in Sydney occurred a day after residents of the Victorian town in the west of Melbourne marched through the streets, calling for action on violence against women after three local women were allegedly killed by men in two months.

According to NGO Counting Dead Women, 24 Australian women have died violently so far in 2024.

Mr Dreyfus said there needed to be a fundamental shift to acknowledge that violence against women in Australia is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men.

To change the situation, he said governments, organisations, frontline services, law enforcement, academic institutions, the judiciary, families, and the community would need to work together.

(Xinhua/NAN)