Their “enough is enough" cause was centred on stronger sentencing for repeat sex offenders.  

The Melbourne rally on a rainy Sunday morning followed a similar event in Wangaratta six months ago, which attracted about 1000 people.

Carol Roadknight, a friend of Whorouly woman Karen Chetcuti who was killed in January, said community safety had to be a priority when it came to releasing parolees into small towns.

“We need to be better protected,” she said.

“(All the speakers at the rally) had that common theme: for recidivist offenders in particular, sentencing is too lenient.”

The two Liberal Party speakers, Shadow Attorney General John Pesutto and Shadow Police Minister Edward O'Donahue, promised the Melbourne crowd they would make changes if elected into government.

“There’s a lot in the justice system that needs shaking up and (Mr Pesutto) has promised to do that,” Ms Roadknight said.

“It’s the disengagement of our current government – we are in crisis.”

Newly-elected Senator Derryn Hinch was another of the key speakers, praising Ms Roadknight and Tania Maxell for their efforts and carrying on with his cause to expose sex offenders with a public registry.

Others at the Melbourne rally included victims of sex offenders and about 20 people who travelled on a bus from Wangaratta.