Canberra, Australia

Australia on Wednesday (May 1) announced that the government will spend almost A$1 billion to tackle violence against women and added that it was committed to helping women escape violence. The government also called the issue a "national crisis" of gendered violence. 

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the issue after an emergency meeting of state and federal leaders. He announced A$925.2 million ($600 million) to make permanent a programme of financial support for those escaping domestic violence. 

Albanese attacked "toxic male extremist" views online as he announced a range of measures to combat deepfake pornography on the internet and promote healthier attitudes towards women. 

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He said, "This is indeed a national crisis and it's a national challenge and we are facing this with a spirit of national unity. Today is about who we are as a nation and as a society." 

"We recognise that governments need to act but we also recognise that this is an issue for the whole of society, not just for governments," he said, adding that it is an issue for civil society, it's an issue for the media, it's an issue for everyone to work together in the national interest to deal with what is a "scourge of violence against women". 

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The prime minister said that his government did not underestimate how difficult policing content on the internet would be but "online players need to understand exactly what the consequences are of a free for all online". 

This comes after thousands took to the streets on Saturday (Apr 27) and Sunday (Apr 28) to protest violence against women, which the government says has killed a woman every four days this year. 

(With inputs from agencies)