Cities to light up orange as the property industry shines a spotlight on domestic and family violence

Tuesday 10 December 2024

MEDIA RELEASE

Cities to light up orange as the property industry shines a spotlight on domestic and family violence

Organisations across the country, led by the Property Champions of Change, will come together to light more than 70 buildings across Australia in orange tonight in a display of solidarity to raise awareness of the critical issue of gender-based violence in Australia.

This initiative is part of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence and in support of UN Women Australia’s Safe. Everywhere. Always campaign to end violence against women and girls.

From the iconic International Towers at Barangaroo to the bustling Canberra Centre, landmarks in major cities and regional areas will glow orange to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Notable participants include 120 Collins Street in Melbourne, Queensland Plaza in Brisbane, and Mandurah Forum in Western Australia.

The Property Champions of Change, a collective of 29 influential property leaders committed to advancing gender equality in the industry, are spearheading this nationwide effort. Joined by members from across the Champions of Change Coalition, they aim to leverage their extensive network of offices and shopping centres to amplify the message.

The initiative marks the culmination of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, known as the Safe. Everywhere. Always campaign in Australia, which runs from the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (25 November) to Human Rights Day (10 December).

Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the property industry has an opportunity to make a positive difference as the nation’s second-largest employer.

“Sadly, often invisibly, the impact of domestic and family violence reaches into our workplaces each and every day,” Mr Zorbas said.

“It is a modest but important awareness raising effort to light our biggest buildings orange.

“Property leaders are spotlighting the need to tackle domestic and family violence and to better support victim-survivors and their families who continue to experience the scourge of this unacceptable behaviour,” he said.

Champions of Change Coalition CEO Annika Freyer said women should be able to walk freely without fear and work without facing harassment.

“Over the last 10 years the Champions of Change Coalition has been at the forefront of workplace action on domestic, family and sexual violence across Australia,” Ms Freyer said.

“The sad reality is that 1 in 4 women experience violence or abuse by a cohabitating partner, and more than one in five (22 per cent) have experienced sexual violence in Australia.

“Seeing such a strong showing of support in our cities is immensely powerful to those victim-survivors who can often feel isolated and alone,” she said.

UN Women Australia CEO Simone Clarke said violence against women doesn’t just happen in the home, it can take on many forms and happen everywhere.

“From home to work, and everywhere in between, safety is non-negotiable. Safe. Everywhere. Always is a call to action for us to come together and commit to meaningful change at every level of Australian society,” Ms Clarke said.

“Violence against women is pervasive but not inevitable, it can and must be stopped.

“By lighting up our cities orange, the property industry is sending a strong signal of support and a rallying cry for all people across the community.

“And when one woman is being violently killed every four days in Australia, we can’t afford to stay silent,” she said.

Phil Rowland, CBRE, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific, and Champions of Change Property Group Group Convenor said every corner of society must act in ending domestic and family violence and raising awareness.

“The property industry has an important role in supporting those experiencing domestic and family violence not just in our workplaces, but in the communities we build and work,” Mr Rowland said.

“Lighting our cities and regional areas in orange sends a powerful message from the property industry, and corporate Australia generally, showing our commitment to helping end domestic and family violence.

“We are lighting our buildings because women should feel safe everywhere, whether in the workplace, a shopping centre or an office building,” he said.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Property Council | Rhys Prka | 0425 113 273 | [email protected]

Champions of Change: Rita Zonius | +61 434 608 829 | [email protected]

UN Women Australia | [email protected]

List of buildings participating

Asset name (if applicable)	Asset address	State/Territory
Treasury Building	1 Langton Crescent, Parkes	ACT
Canberra Centre	Canberra Centre Bunda Street, Canberra City ACT 2608 Australia	ACT
Telstra Tower	100 Black Mountain Drive, Acton ACT 2601	ACT
Crown Sydney		NSW
Bayswater Powerstation	New England Highway, Musswellbrook, NSW, 2333	NSW
5 Martin Place, Sydney	5 Martin Place, Sydney	NSW
	8 Buller Street Port Macquarie	NSW
EY Centre	200 George Street	NSW
Rouse Hill Town Centre	10/14 Market Lane, Rouse Hill, 2155	NSW
580 George St	580 George St, Sydney, 2000	NSW
Royal North Shore Hospital – Acute Services Building Forecourt	Cnr Westbourne Street and Reserve Road, St Leonards	NSW
	126 Phillip St, Sydney	NSW
	60 Martin Place, Sydney	NSW
	39 Martin Place, Sydney	NSW
George Place	345-363 George Street	NSW
	18 Smith Street Parramatta	NSW
	100 Arthur Street North Sydney	NSW
200 George Street	200 George Street, Sydney	NSW
	20 Martin Place Sydney	NSW
	10 Mount Street North Sydney	NSW
International Towers, Barangaroo	Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo	NSW
Darling Quarter	Darling Quarter, 1 – 25 Harbour Street, Sydney NSW 2000	NSW
275 Kent Street	275 Kent St, Sydney	NSW
388 George Street	388 George Street	NSW
32 Smith St, Parramatta	32 Smith St, Parramatta	NSW
Castle Towers	Castle Towers Shopping Centre 6-14 Castle Street Castle Hill NSW 2154 Australia	NSW
Scape HQ	275 George St	NSW
Scape Darling House	41 Darling Drive	NSW
Scape Darling Square	39 Darling Drive	NSW
Piccadilly	133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney	NSW
TAL building sign	500 Bourke Street, Melbourne	NSW
Zurich Tower	118 Mount Street Sydney	NSW
	20 Bridge Street Sydney	NSW
1 William Street, Brisbane	1 William Street, Brisbane	QLD
Pacific Fair	32, Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach, 4218	QLD
	9 Viola Place, Eagle Farm	QLD
Central Plaza	345 Queen Street, Brisbane	QLD
Wintergarden	171-209 Queen Street, Brisbane	QLD
Robina Town Centre	Robina Town Centre Drive (off Robina Parkway) Robina, Gold Coast, Queensland 4230 Australia	QLD
Grand Central	Dent St & Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350	QLD
275 George Street, Brisbane	275 George Street, Brisbane	QLD
QueensPlaza	226 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000	QLD
83 Pirie Street, Adelaide	83 Pirie Street, Adelaide	SA
Crown Towers Melbourne		VIC
Loy Yang A Power Station	Hyland Highway, Loy Yang Victoria 3844	VIC
171 Collins Street, Melbourne	171 Collins Street, Melbourne	VIC
720 Bourke Street, Melbourne	720 Bourke Street, Melbourne	VIC
311/313 Spencer Street, Melbourne	311/313 Spencer Street, Melbourne	VIC
Collins Arch – 447 Collins Street, Melbourne	Collins Arch – 447 Collins Street, Melbourne	VIC
700 Collins Street	700 Collins Street, Docklands	VIC
8 Exhibition Street	8 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, 3000	VIC
181 William St	181 William St, Melbourne, 3000	VIC
	120 Collins St, Melbourne	VIC
	567 Collins St, Melbourne	VIC
Spring Place	50 Lonsdale Street	VIC
Karingal Hub	330 Cranbourne Road	VIC
Rialto	525 Collins Street Melbourne	VIC
Peakstone New Central Investments	637 Flinders Street, Docklands	VIC
Eastland Shopping Centre	175 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood VIC 3134.	VIC
Watergardens	Watergardens, 399 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes, 3038, Victoria	VIC
242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne	242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne	VIC
Chadstone	341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone VIC	VIC
Crown Metropol Perth		WA
140 William Street, Perth	140 William Street, Perth	WA
Karrinyup Shopping Centre	200, Karrinyup Road, Karrinyup, 6018	WA
N/A	93 Francisco Street	WA
Enex100	683 Hay Street Mall, Perth	WA
125 St Georges Terrace, Perth	125 St Georges Terrace, Perth	WA
Mandurah Forum	330 Pinjarra Rd, Mandurah WA 6210	WA