By Rachael Ward in Melbourne

The push for a register of convicted family violence offenders is gaining momentum in Victoria, as thousands prepare to march in national rallies calling for an end to gendered abuse.

Twenty-six women have allegedly died by violence in Australia so far this year, according to Destroy the Joint figures, which equates to a woman killed every four days in 2024.

Earlier this week Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found dead at her home in Forbes in NSW while Emma Bates, 49, was discovered dead at a property in Cobram in Victoria.

Ms Ticehurst’s former partner has been charged with her murder, while John Torney, 39, faced court in Melbourne on Friday on assault charges after Ms Bates’ death.

The rise in deaths has led Victoria Police to renew its calls for a register of convicted family violence offenders.

Victoria Police submitted the idea of a register to the Royal Commission into Family Violence, but it was not among the 227 recommendations.

Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway, who leads the family violence unit, said some high-risk offenders had a pattern of going from relationship to relationship.

“The principal of a right to know someone’s violent priors, if it is certainly going to provide you with a more informed choice around how to manage your safety, that is certainly something that police have previously put forward,” she told reporters on Friday.

She said greater focus should be put on rehabilitating perpetrators as “it’s not an option to lock everyone up forever”.

“Some solutions, I think, place too much emphasis on women to do the changing and we know that’s not the long-term solution,” she said.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said governments had a responsibility to lead and the state’s ministers were seeking advice on strengthening protections.

“It’s clear we need to do more, it’s clear we need to examine what else we can do and that does include what changes we may need to make to our legal systems, our justice systems, how we respond in those areas,” she told reporters in Bendigo.

Meanwhile, NSW Police said it would back a proposal to stop court registrars from making bail decisions in domestic violence cases, after the death of Ms Ticehurst.

Rallies calling for an end to violence against women will be held across nine cities from Friday to Sunday, with thousands expected to attend for marches, speeches and performances.

Demonstrators will call for more action from politicians, rally organiser and What Were You Wearing Australia founder Sarah Williams said.

“We need them to take these crimes more seriously,” she said.

The first event will be held in Ballarat on Friday night, a regional Victorian city rocked by the deaths of three local women this year.

Police allege Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire all died at the hands of men.

Further demonstrations will be held in Newcastle, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong, Coffs Harbour, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.

Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly said there had been a high number of deaths of Australian women over the past two months.

“The shocking rate of violent deaths of women this year exceeds anything Australia has experienced in recent years,” Ms Kinnersly said.

“The community, men and women, is demanding that this ends and ends now.”

No community is safe and the number of deaths only reveal the “tips of the iceberg” of violence against women, she said.

“Behind every number is a woman who was loved and who lived,” Ms Kinnersly added.

“When it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero.”

The Ballarat rally will be held at the town’s Bridge Mall from 5pm on Friday, and there will be a demonstration at Newcastle Museum from 6pm.