By Colin Packham
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters are expected to arrive in Australia’s capital on Monday when the country’s parliament resumes as part of demonstrations across the country, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Spurred on rape charges against Attorney General Christian Porter and a former Morrison Liberal Party official, 43 protests are planned across the country on Monday to demand equality and justice for women.
Porter denies the accusation, which arose recently, of the alleged rape of 1988.
A March4Justice rally is expected to bring together several thousand people outside parliament in Canberra, the largest demonstration that organizers predict will have about 85,000 people across the country.
The protests will increase pressure on Morrison, who will not have two members in his cabinet when parliament resumes on Monday.
“People who are not interested in politics are engaged and angry, and the number is growing,” said Haydon Manning, professor of political science at Flinders University in South Australia. “Morrison cannot allow the problem to continue, he simply has to change the agenda.”
Seeking to appease the growing anger, Morrison said on Sunday that he would meet with a delegation, although he did not attend the protest.
The allegations involving people in the Morrison government are expected to dominate proceedings over the next two weeks, with Morrison also facing an exhausted bench.
Porter and Defense Minister Linda Reynolds – who was criticized for falling when reporting the alleged rape committed by an unidentified former employee – are both on sick leave.
(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by William Mallard)