The minister for Indigenous Australians says combating the national crisis of violence against women requires a concentrated, national approach.
In a statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which begins '16 Days of Activism: Uniting for a future free from violence,' Malarndirri McCarthy highlighted the disproportionate levels of violence faced by First Nations women, which has seen at least 476 Indigenous women killed since 1989.
She said Indigenous women are seven times more likely to be homicide victims than non-Indigenous women.
Of these women, 75 per cent are killed by a current or former partner.
"First Nations women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence than non-Indigenous women," Minister McCarthy said.
Monday will see the release of the findings by NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage into the domestic violence-related deaths of Territory women Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Miss Yunupiŋu and Kumarn Rubuntja.
Their deaths were described as "truly shocking" by counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC in her submission, with the inquest coming amid a "national crisis" in the NT, with at least 83 women having been killed by domestic violence in the Territory since 2000—more than 90 per cent being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
"Addressing the disproportionately high rates of family violence experienced by First Nations women and children requires a concerted effort," Senator McCarthy said.
"The Albanese Government is committed to working with First Nations people and organisations as we develop the standalone National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan."
At the inquest, Acting Deputy Commissioner White said responding to domestic violence needed more collaboration and resources, and wasn't a job for police "alone to do".
"The only way we're going to prevent further harm to the community and women and children in particular, is if we can change the behaviour of men, that is where it's got to be fixed," he said.
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In just the past five months, another eight women from the NT have been killed in alleged domestic violence attacks—all Indigenous.
During the inquest into the four murdered women, Ms Dwyer released 30 proposed recommendations for Coroner Armitage to consider.
These included funding increases, indexation for the sector and an overhaul of prison programs, whilst also highlighting how Territory government agencies continually missed opportunities to prevent the "horrific deaths" of the four women.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said that the 2024 theme was 'Every 10 Minutes, a Woman is Killed. #NoExcuse' and said UNiTE to End Violence against Women is an important reminder that ending gender-based violence is the responsibility of all Australians.
"A whole of society response is needed and ending gender-based violence requires genuine, ongoing effort from everyone, everywhere," Minister Rishworth said.
"From our programs targeting perpetrators and preventative initiatives, to support services assisting women and children who have experienced gender-based violence, our government is invested in tackling this pervasive human rights violation from all angles.
"This is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the consistent and persistent action required to end gender-based violence in one generation and look ahead with hope to the lives that can – and will – be positively changed as a result."
Earlier this year, a landmark senate inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children called for a review of policing practices, as well as a First Nations role at the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission and changes to the way the media reports on First Nations deaths.
It was delivered to a near-empty Senate and wasn't reported in the national broadsheet or many of the tabloid papers across the country.
Highlighting data from Victoria specifically, Antoinette Braybrook from family violence prevention service Djirra said Aboriginal women are 45 times more likely to experience family violence – perpetrated by men from all backgrounds – than other women; 69 times more likely to experience a head injury while being assaulted; and 10 times more likely to be killed by someone who says they love you.
"These numbers do not include the 90 per cent of instances of family violence against our women that are unreported, or the deaths and disappearances that are not properly investigated by police and other services," Ms Braybrook said earlier this year.
Nationally, at least 315 First Nations women have been murdered or died in suspicious circumstances since 2000, and the inquiry received 87 submissions and held hearings across five states and territories.
"This violence is not inevitable," the head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strategy at Our Watch, Regan Mitchell, said last week.
"Black women need to be believed the first time. Black women and their children need to have the option to leave the violence and have access to safe accommodation, and Black women need to be heard about what they need to be safe."
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
13YARN 13 92 76
Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905
