Women’s health start-up Ovira has draped a banner declaring “Our pain is no longer your power” on Christian Porter’s office building.
The banner was placed in response to Porter’s resignation announcement, a banner was draped on top of his office building in WA last Wednesday.
The banner reads “Our pain is no longer your power.” and is signed off from “the women of Australia.”
The banner aims to send a message of solidarity to the women of Australia who expressed deep frustration after the attorney general’s refusal to stand down in March 2021 following allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988.
A dossier detailing the allegations was made public in June this year, on the first anniversary of the woman’s death after she took her own life in 2020.
Ovira founder Alice Williams, said: “Like millions of women in Australia, when the rape allegations became public earlier in the year – we were horrified.
“Parliament’s stubborn refusal to take a stand on the matter, and instead temporarily promoting Porter to Leader of the House sent an extremely damaging message to the women of Australia. The leaders of our country must do better.”
“Only 1.5 per cent of sexual assaults result in a conviction and just today a survey revealed that half of the women in Australia have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
“We can’t afford further barriers to women reporting violence. Enough is enough.
“The recent Jenkins report revealed that 1 in 3 Parliamentarian staff has experienced sexual harassment. The Prime Minister’s response was that he “wished he found it more surprising”. If this is the case, then what action has been taken?
“We’re sick of waiting around, only to be met with empty statements again and again and again. We’re standing in solidarity with the women of Australia who can finally release their clenched jaws and fists after the recent news.
“We demand further action and accountability from the leaders of our country to create a safe Australia for women everywhere. Accusations must be properly dealt with.”
Ovira is the company behind the protest mobile billboards that went up outside Knox Grammar and the Downing Centre and the subsequent crowdfund “Your Lucky Stars” which raised $40,000 for non-profit organisations providing support for women experiencing violence.
