Two speakers brought strong messages for the Federal Government to the National Press Club this week. 

Formal Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame spoke a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison formally apologised to those who experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or bullying while working in federal parliament.

The speakers detailed how the plight of women in workplaces and broader society is not a “women's issue”, and cannot be marginalised as such. 

Brittany Higgins said she found some of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's language over the course of last year “shocking and at times, admittedly, a bit offensive”.

“What bothered me most about the whole; ‘Imagine if it were our daughters’ spiel wasn't that he necessarily needed his wife's advice to help contextualise my rape in a way that mattered to him personally,” she said.

“I didn't want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister.”

Ms Tame made three clear recommendations to the Federal Government. 

She said the government must take the issue of abuse in all its forms seriously. 

“I mean proactive, preventative measures - not these reactive, band aid, electioneering stunts like acknowledging past harm at the last minute. If you don't take a strong stance to condemn abuse, you enable it,” she said.

She also called for more funding for prevention education, to pay for a scheme that is actually implemented.

“What we need in order to create real change is meaningful investment in our children. In their education. Because they are the future of our nation,” Ms Tame said.

Finally, she said the government should take up measures for national, consistent, legislative change.

“Still today, perpetrators of abuse find safety in outdated, inconsistent legislation which both protects them and perpetuates social ignorance,” Ms Tame said.

The former Australian of the Year also claimed that she had been asked not to criticise the Prime Minister. 

“I received a threatening phone call from a senior member of a government-funded organisation, asking for my word that I would not say anything damning about the Prime Minister on the evening of the next Australian of the Year Awards,” she said. 

“And it crystallised a fear - a fear for himself and no-one else, a fear that himself and no-one else... might lose his position or, more to the point, his power.

“Sound familiar to anyone? Well, it does to me.”

Women's Safety Minister Anne Ruston says the government is investigating the phone call.

The full addresses can be seen below.