Three women dead in 24 hours. Yet our potential leaders remain silent.

Content warning: this article discusses domestic and family violence.

This week, in just 24 hours, the lives of three women violently ended. Two of those lives were lost following alleged domestic violence incidents. The third life was lost in an alleged drive-by shooting.

Louise Hunt, a domestic violence advocate, died after her family home went up in flames. Her two children were also at home at the time, but were found safe and well, police confirmed. Her husband, Cameron Hunt, has been charged with the domestic violence murder of his wife and arson of the home.

Claire Austin died from her injuries after she ran through a glass door, in a desperate attempt to flee an alleged domestic violence incident. Following the incident, police applied for an apprehended violence order on behalf of Austin, The Herald reports. The application was due to be heard in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

Watch: Cameron Hunt charged with murder and arson over wife Louise Hunt's death. Article continues after the video.

Kim Duncan was in the supposed safety of her own home when it was sprayed with bullets. The mother and grandmother died at the scene. 

So far, in 2025, 19 women have been murdered. During this time, five children have also been murdered. 

Most of these murders were the result of intimate partner or domestic violence. Almost all were perpetrated by men known to their victims. Four were caused by stranger violence.

We're on the same horrifying trajectory as last year, a year which saw 101 women and 16 children killed.  And yet, the silence from our leaders is deafening. 

Silence, despite a looming federal election. 

Last night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, took part in a second leaders' debate. The first debate was held on April 8. 

Housing was discussed. The economy. Climate change. Immigration. They even sparred over international diplomacy. But domestic and family violence? Not a word. Men's violence against women generally? Nothing.

Not a question. Not a policy announcement. Not even a passing mention.

Last year, hundreds of thousands of people marched across the country for a series of rallies, organised by Indigenous-led advocacy organisation, What Where You Wearing (WWYW), to say 'no more' to men's violence against women. 

As a result of our collective noise, the Prime Minister himself called men's violence against women a national crisis. In last year's budget, the government introduced a number of initiatives aimed at addressing domestic and family violence. 

The extension of the Leaving Violence Program, for example, and a funding boost for crisis accommodation and legal assistance.

But the national crisis remains as terrifying as ever. Women and children are still being killed. Thousands more live in daily fear, their lives controlled — physically, emotionally, financially. 

So, where is the urgency now? Where is the urgency as we approach an election both leaders are framing as a pivotal moment for Australia's future.

Australian women — more than 50 per cent of the country's population — care deeply about this issue. We are scared. We are sad. We are angry. And we are exhausted from waiting for someone in power to take our lives seriously.

Mamamia's 2025 election survey confirms what we already know — domestic and family violence is a top-five election issue for women voters. 37 per cent of us named it a key concern, placing it above things like tax cuts and defence. That should be enough to force it onto the national agenda. And yet, it's not. 

Of course, the murder of women, and the abuse of women, isn't just a women's issue. At least, it shouldn't be. In fact, our nation should all but grind to a halt as we grapple with the shame of what is being allowed to take place.

While the relentlessness of this crisis can leave us numb, I'm still struck by how few men speak out publicly. If this level of violence were happening in any other context, it would dominate the political agenda.

Over the years, there have been steps in the right direction — paid domestic violence leave, pilot support programs. But they're Band-Aids on bullet wounds. On the ground, frontline services are still overwhelmed. Refuge spaces remain limited. Victims are being turned away. 

And every week, another woman (or more) has her name added to a devastating list.

Our leaders are busy talking about the future — about growth, about building, about national strength. But how strong can we be as a country if we can't even keep our women safe in their own homes?

The absence of meaningful discussion or policy action from either major party isn't just a political oversight — it reflects a broader societal failure. 

When our leaders choose not to prioritise domestic and family violence, it sends a troubling message: that women's safety is negotiable. 

Men's violence against women is a national emergency. If our political leaders aren't going to raise it on their own, we must continue to raise it for them — loudly, clearly, and together. 

If you're a voter — of any gender — your voice matters. Ask your local candidates what they're doing about domestic violence. Demand answers. Demand action. Because if they're not talking about it now, when will they?

Women deserve better than silence.

Women deserve safety. 

Women deserve to live.

If you or anyone you know needs to speak with an expert, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) — the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a Queensland-based organisation that helps women and families move on after the devastation of domestic violence. If you would like to support their mission to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most, you can donate here.