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Lisa Wilkinson and Julia Morris lead tributes to Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame for their powerful speeches at the National Press Club

''It’s been a heart swelling week.''
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Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame’s powerful speeches at the National Press Club on Wednesday moved and inspired many around Australia, including Lisa Wilkinson and Julia Morris, who took to their respective Instagram accounts to share their support and pride.

Lisa, a long-time supporter, shared pictures featuring Brittany and Grace taken at the event, and wrote in her caption, “What a day. And what a privilege it was to be in that room to hear @brittanyhiggins___ and @tamepunk.I am in total awe.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏.”

Former Bachelorette Angie Kent also praised the women in Lisa’s comments by writing, “Three magical women right there 👑 🙌🏽💕.”

“I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister.”

(Image: Instagram)

Meanwhile Julia shared pictures of the two making their speeches with subtitles beneath their image.

Underneath Brittany’s picture, the subtitles read, “I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister,” and below Grace, “I received a threatening phone call.”

The I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! host wrote in her caption about how their speeches left her feeling moved.

“I’m not often inspired these days… but it’s been a heart swelling week. I was moved by all three speakers. Teaching & not preaching. Thank you jx,” penned Julia.

Lisa is an avid supporter of Brittany and Grace.

(Image: Instagram)

Brittany and Grace, both 26, made impassioned pleas for much needed structural change and real action to thwart sexual abuse and assault.

Grace, who was 2021’s Australian of the Year, asked the government to start taking abuse seriously and advance national legislative change that is consistent on matters of sexual offences. She also called on them to improve and spend more money on preventative education to reduce the dangerously high rates of abuse and assault.

“We currently have a government that is primarily concerned with short-sighted, votes-based funding, not with long-term, needs-based funding,” Grace explained in her address.

“I know our country can do better for women and girls.”

(Image: Instagram)

Brittany, meanwhile, called out the government’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children for its “vague and lofty” aims that offer no actual plans.

“I know our country can do better for women and girls. I know our Parliament will be a better, stronger place if more women are ministers and members and senators and staffers. I know change is possible, and as long as there are people like Grace Tame and Rosie Batty … I know that change is coming,” she said.

She also revealed her disappointment in Scott Morrison for his response to her rape allegations against a Parliament House colleague by saying she was not looking for a father’s sympathy but action from the PM.

Grace shared she received a phone call from a senior member of a government-funded organisation on August 7, urging her to not say anything negative about the Prime Minister before the Australian of the Year awards in 2022.

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