Protest organisers for the March4Justice rally have declined an offer to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Women Marise Payne in private, after government leaders declined to attend the rally in Canberra.
Women's March for Justice founder Janine Hendry said with more than 100,000 women expected to march in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane a meeting with "just three women" was not be enough.
The March4Justice protest, was established in the wake of reports of an alleged rape at Parliament House against former staffer Brittany Higgins, and the historical rape allegations levelled against Attorney-General Christian Porter, which he strongly denies.
The protest features a list of demands, including independent investigations into cases of gendered violence and the full implementation of the .
Every member of federal parliament has been invited to attend the march.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack have already warned they will be too busy to attend.
Mr Morrison told the media on Sunday he would not go because "when you're prime minister in Canberra, it's a very busy day" but said he would "very happy to receive a delegation" privately in his office.
He has offered, alongside Minister for Women Marise Payne, to meet up to four of the protest organisers in his office on Monday afternoon.
Earlier Minister Payne said she would receive the protesters' petition "via correspondence" rather than in person.
Mr Morrison said violence against women "continues to be a very high priority of my government".
"The issue of dealing with violence against women and families, these are things that should be bipartisan in this country, and in most of my parliamentary experience they have been and should be."
"And so I understand there is great feeling, and understandably so on these issues. And what we need to keep focusing on is the protections, and the resources and the programs that we're putting in place."
Ms Hendry however Tweeted on Monday morning that a protest delegation would not meet with the government "behind closed doors".
"We have already come to the front door, now it's up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us. We will not be meeting behind closed doors," she said.
Mr McCormack said he appreciated the issue was important but said he had a duty to respect prior commitments.
"I've already got commitments that I will meet, and I believe if you make commitments, then you should stick to those," he told the ABC’s Insiders program.
"I appreciate that this is an important issue and I understand, part of democracy, that people have their right to march and protest, and of course any submission or thing that they want to take forward."
However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese does plan to attend the gathering outside parliament, saying it would be unsurprising if the coalition snubs the grassroots campaign.
"It is important that we listen to what the community is saying, that was the message that Grace Tame, the Australian of the Year, said at the National Press Club," Mr Albanese told Sky News on Sunday.
"We do have a scourge of violence against women and against children. We do need to listen to what people are saying."
The movement has grown rapidly, and with over 28,000 followers on Facebook. Protests have been organised in 36 locations around the country.
With AAP.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit .
