Australia will spend almost A$1 billion on payments for those fleeing domestic violence and introduce new measures to police pornography and violence on the internet in response to what the government is calling a “national crisis” of gendered violence.

Thousands took to the streets on Saturday to protest violence against women, which the government says has killed a woman every four days this year. Five women were killed during a mass stabbing in April, the same month a high-profile defamation case concluded a rape took place in parliament.

Speaking after an emergency meeting of state and federal leaders to address the issue, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced A$925.2 million ($600 million) to make permanent a programme of financial support for those escaping domestic violence.

“Today is about who we are as a nation and as a society,” he said. “This is an issue for the whole of society, not just for governments. It’s an issue for civil society, it’s an issue for the media, it’s an issue for all of us.”