Ballarat council demands federal inquiry into femicide
Ballarat council calls for a national Royal Commission into femicide. It cites 56 women killed in 2026.
Mayor Tracey Hargreaves introduced the motion. Hargreaves called the killing of women and girls a national failure.
The council voted unanimously. The council asked the federal government to hold an independent inquiry.
This would look into why gender-based violence continues. Hargreaves said the death toll demands urgent action, not just mourning.
Victoria held a Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2016. All 227 of its recommendations were put into practice by 2023.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to back a national inquiry in May, citing time and cost. Ballarat police spend up to 80 per cent of their time responding to family violence calls.
- 56 women killed
- Deaths in 2026
- 227 implemented by 2023
- Victoria's recommendations
- 80 percent on family violence calls
- Ballarat police workload
- Over 150,000 signatures
- Petition support
Why it mattersA Royal Commission could find where systems are failing and what changes are needed. This could prevent further deaths.
AustraliaAustralia has now seen 56 women killed in 2026 alone; this motion pushes the federal government to take action on a crisis affecting Australian communities.
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