March 4 Justice organisers reject 'behind closed doors' meeting with Prime Minister

Organisers of a mass rally by women have rejected the offer of a 'behind-closed-doors' meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to march today in "the biggest uprising of women that Australia's seen", culminating in a protest at Parliament House in Canberra at the heart of where they are demanding action.

One of the organisers, Janine Hendry, announced on social media this morning a delegation would not take up Mr Morrison's offer of a private meeting.

READ MORE: Momentum grows for March 4 Justice rallies

"We have already come to the front door, now it's up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us," she tweeted.

"We will not be meeting behind closed doors."

"Women of Australia do not need more meetings or reports by expert bodies on what needs to be  done to end gendered violence," a spokesperson said.

"The Prime Minister's offer has elicited a strong response and a wide range of views which we have listened to. The overwhelming majority of views said no. We have already come to the front door, it's up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us."

The Women's March 4 Justice movement, which has more than 40 rallies registered across the country, is calling for a change in Federal Parliament, demanding all politicians address and "put an end to the issues of sexism, misogyny, dangerous workplace cultures and lack of equality in politics and the community at large".

Mr Morrison had offered to meet a "small delegation" of those who attend the Canberra rally today, Ms Hendry said.

But the prime minister's stance has been supported by Federal Liberal MP Katie Allen who told Today the rally organisers should have taken up Mr Morrison's offer of a private meeting.

"I'm disappointed they don't want to get inside the tent and meet with him. But I respect their choice and it's their opinion that they would like to do the protest and not meet with him," Dr Allen said.

She said it was a busy time in Federal Parliament.

"There is lots of protests that go on all the time in Canberra and we are actually in Canberra at the moment, and the divisions happen, parliament happens, there is a lot going on".

Dr Allen said the Minister for Women, Marise Payne, would be receiving a petition after the rally.

But Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he did not rule out meeting a delegation from the Canberra rally.

Mr McCormack told Today he had a packed diary of appointments.

"We will see how we go. I have a full book of appointments and have had for some weeks ... I won't say I won't go."

Ms Hendry said yesterday she had been called by someone from the Prime Minister's Office and the group would be "carefully considering the offer" before formally responding before the march.

"What we would like to know is why the PM can't come out to meet us and talk directly?" Ms Hendry wrote on Twitter.

"More than 100,000 women and allies from every walk of life are standing up to speak. How could meeting with just three women be enough? #EnoughIsEnough."

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus, who will speak at the Canberra event, told 9News as she arrived in the capital yesterday that it was an historic moment for Australian women.

"Women are saying 'enough's enough'," Ms McManus said.

"We've had enough, and these marches, as you can see, are happening right across the country. I think this will be the biggest uprising of women that Australia's seen."

READ MORE: Women's protest organiser demands change during confrontation with Deputy PM

Michele O'Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, said "in workplaces all over the country, women are being harassed, they're being assaulted, and even in some cases raped".

"And we know the answers to this. The government knows the answers to this. And they just refuse to act. So we're here, with thousands of other women, to make sure the government can't ignore the call to act," Ms O'Neil said in Canberra yesterday.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he would "listen to the people who will be outside Parliament" today.

"I think the issue of women's rights is one that, absolutely, I'm not surprised that it's being campaigned on.

"One of the things that occurred at the National Press Club with Grace Tame's address was she spoke about the need for people to listen, and I think (Monday) is an opportunity for people to listen."

READ MORE: Thousands take to streets in Perth in Women's March 4 Justice rally

Since its launch two weeks ago, the movement has attracted more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, more than 33,000 members of its Facebook group, and more than 22,000 signatures to its petition.

It has been driven by recent allegations of sexual assault by members of Parliament.

The petition calls for immediate action on four demands:

- Full independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence and timely referrals to appropriate authorities. Full public accountability for findings

- Fully implement the 55 recommendations in the Australian Human Rights Commission's Respect@Work report of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces 2020

- Lift public funding for gendered violence prevention to world's best practice

- The enactment of a federal Gender Equality Act to promote gender equality. It should include a gender equity audit of Parliamentary practices.

Protesters plan to dress head-to-toe in black, brandish signs and listen to speakers calling for swift action towards gender equality.

When will they take place?

Most rallies are planned to start at the same time, midday on Monday, March 14.

Some were held earlier on Sunday and others vary in their start time.

Who will speak?

The Canberra rally will be MCed by Julia Zemiro and Welcome to Country will be given by Aunty Violet Sheridan.

Among those scheduled to speak at the rally in Canberra are ACTU Secretary and outspoken political activist Sally McManus, Aboriginal research scholar Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng and Saxon Mullins, the complainant in the highly-publicised rape trial of Luke Lazarus.

Other speakers announced by Women's March 4 Justice include Madhumitha Janagaraja, Michele O'Neil, Animata Conteh-Biger, Biff Ward, Virginia Hausegger, Avan Daruwalla, and Maddie Chia.

Where are marches taking place?

There are more than 40 rallies planned across the country (including some that took place on Sunday).

These are taken from the March4Justice group's "constantly updated" list:

NSW - New South Wales

Albury, NSW (Also see Wodonga, Vic)

Armidale, NSW

Bega, NSW

Bellingen, NSW (March 14)

Byron, NSW

Coffs Harbour, NSW

Gosford, NSW

Iluka -Woombah, NSW

Lismore, NSW

Nowra, NSW

Newcastle, NSW

Sydney, NSW

Taree, NSW

Wagga Wagga, NSW

Wollongong - Vigil & Transport to Canberra

NT - Northern Territory

Alice Springs, NT

Darwin, NT

Katherine, NT

QLD - Queensland

Brisbane, QLD

Bundaberg, QLD

Cairns, QLD (March 14)

Maroochydore, QLD

Toowoomba, QLD

Townsville, QLD

SA - South Australia

Adelaide

Tas - Tasmania

Hobart, Tas

Shearwater, Tas

Vic - Victoria

Ballarat, Vic

Bendigo, Vic

Geelong, Vic

Melbourne, Vic

Rosebud, Vic

Somerville, Vic

Seaford, Vic

Talbot, Vic

Torquay - Surf Coast, Vic

Wangaratta, Vic

Warrnambool, Vic

Wodonga - ALSO see Albury Event

WA - Western Australia

Albany, WA

Bunbury -Southwest, WA

Perth, WA (March 14)