Lake Cargelligo killings highlight funding gaps in Aboriginal family violence services

Natasha Clark Updated January 30, 2026 - 6.32am (AWST), first published January 29, 2026 at 1.30pm (AWST)

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Australia's national peak body for Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services (FVPLS) has warned the alleged murder of a pregnant Aboriginal woman by her former partner highlights the urgent need for adequate funding of specialist Aboriginal-led family violence services.

NSW Police are still searching for 37-year-old Julian Ingram, who is accused of shooting and killing his former partner, Indigenous woman Sophie Quinn, who was seven months pregnant, and her friend, 32-year-old Indigenous man John Harris, while they were driving through their hometown of Lake Cargelligo last week.

Police allege Mr Ingram then travelled to a nearby home, where he fatally shot Ms Queen's aunt, 50-year-old Nerida Quinn, and seriously injured 19-year-old Kaleb Macqueen.

First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence chief executive Kerry Staines said the organisation was devastated by the loss of life.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of the young mother in Lake Cargelligo last week. No one should lose their life to domestic and family violence," Ms Staines said.

Ms Staines said Indigenous women were five times more likely to be victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women.

"This is not inevitable. It is the result of systemic failure in prevention, protection and investment," she said.

NSW has the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia.

However, Ms Staines stresses that there is unmet demand for Aboriginal-led family violence services in rural NSW.

"The result is significant unmet demand, particularly in rural and regional communities where risks are highest and services can be the hardest to access."

The deaths of Sophie Queen, Nerida Quin, and John Harris must prompt the NSW government's urgent investment into FVPLS services which have a record of protecting Aboriginal women and children from domestic violence, according to Ms Haines.

"This must be a turning point," she said.

"The NSW government must invest properly in its FVPLS services and fund in line with population, risk, and need. Aboriginal women's lives depend on it."