‘System in crisis’ sparks action on domestic violence
Rudi Maxwell |
Organisers of a day of action against violence say services and workers are stretched to breaking point in the Northern Territory and women and children are dying as a result.
Family and domestic violence workers, advocates and supporters are coming together on Tuesday to highlight the need for better resources.
Connie Shaw, from the Tangentyere women’s family safety group in Alice Springs, said they were asking for needs-based funding for services that supported survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.
“We’re crying out for help,” she said.
“We need to do the work that we’re doing but we can’t without funding.”
Ms Shaw said women going through family violence often would not or could not speak up.
“Domestic, family and sexual violence is everyone’s problem,” she said.
Chay Brown from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research pointed to a current inquest, where NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage is investigating the deaths of four Aboriginal women at the hands of their partners.
“We’re hearing about a system in crisis,” she said.
“We’re hearing about the fact that domestic, family and sexual violence has increased by 117 per cent in recent years in the NT.
“We’ve heard about police call-out times to domestic violence incidents more than doubling and we’ve heard about how women’s shelters are having to turn people away because they don’t have enough beds.”
NT domestic, family and sexual violence prevention minister Kate Worden said funding had been increased in the past financial year and the territory government was committed to maintaining the upward trajectory.
“I am proud to be part of a government who showed the leadership to invest in this important work, to inwardly look at where more could be done, where we are doing a good job, and what we need to strengthen to move forward,” she said.
Ms Worden said the government was working with the Commonwealth to strengthen responses on the issue.
“I have seen the funding calls from the sector and I will continue to work with them on progressing reform in this space,” she said.
According to rally organisers, the NT has the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia.
It is estimated eight in 10 women in the NT have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence, compared to three in 10 nationally.
The NT has seven times the national average of domestic violence-related homicides and triple the national average of domestic violence assaults.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the federal government had made significant investments to address domestic, family and sexual violence in the NT.
She pointed to an extra $10.7 million given to the territory in February under the FDSV National Partnership, with the NT to receive a total of $28.835 million over five years under the scheme.
That was significantly more than other jurisdictions on a per capita basis, Ms Rishworth said, also highlighting additional funding for the national Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program and boosts to frontline workers.
“I am committed to making sure investment in women’s safety is prioritised towards areas of greatest need,” she said.
Rally organisers are calling on the territory and federal governments to fund the NT domestic, family and sexual violence sector with a minimum additional $180 million over five years.
They are also calling for a peak body to be established and funded in the NT and a commitment to allocate 50 per cent of new housing from the Housing Australia Future Fund to victim-survivors.
Supporters will gather on the court lawns in Alice Springs, with actions also taking place in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Galiwinku and Lajamanu.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
13YARN 13 92 76
Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905
AAP
