About 3,000 women gathered in Perth’s CBD on Sunday for the first of a series of women’s marches planned around Australia, demanding an end to gendered violence.

Inspired by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and Australian of the Year Grace Tame, the protesters demanded greater action to end sexual assault and ensure women’s safety.

In February, Brittany Higgins went public with an allegation a male colleague raped her inside the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.

It has prompted a fierce public debate about the treatment of women in Parliament House and broader society.

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Speaking at the rally today, former federal Labor MP Emma Husar said she left federal parliament because she was sexually harassed and “slut-shamed”.

“We’ve had enough of being maligned by the boys’ club, we’ve had enough of being raped by the men who think they can put their hands on us when they can’t,” Ms Husar said.

“We’ve had enough of being sidelined, not being paid enough and not being represented enough in leadership roles.”

The Perth protest organisers called on the WA government to introduce laws criminalising coercive control.

Ms Husar said she hoped the marches would lead to real change and she encouraged survivors of sexual assault to stand together.

“We’re all tired, tired of retelling our trauma-filled stories in the hope that someone will listen and actually take action for us,” she said.

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