Canberra ‘resolute’ in commitment to end domestic violence

By PETER ROWE

The Federal Government has acknowledged First Nations women and children whose lives have been cut short through horrific acts of violence, and those who are missing on its response to the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children.

A government statement said it thanked the survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence who made submissions to and appeared before the Inquiry, and family members who made submissions and spoke on behalf of loved ones murdered or missing.

“We are resolute in our commitment to ending the scourge of violence against women and children in every part of the country – whether in our cities, towns, or remote communities,” Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher said.

“This Inquiry report is confronting, but that is why it is necessary. It will inform much of the work our government has underway, including informing the work of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan from next year.”

The findings and recommendations will now inform a range of work currently underway to address the horrific rates of violence against First Nations women and children.

This includes informing the standalone National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan being launched next year, which will be led by First Nations people and provide direction for future policy approaches.

Nationally, First Nations women are seven times more likely to be homicide victims than non-Indigenous women, and of those 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 for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth said the government was listening and working in partnership with First Nations leaders to address the disproportionately high rates of violence against First Nations women and children.

“It is unacceptable and it must end,” Ms Rishworth said.

“Along with State and Territory governments we want to end gender-based violence in one generation for all Australians.”