In a damning indictment of systemic failures, a landmark report by the Northern Territory coroner has exposed the devastating reality of domestic violence against Aboriginal women in the region. The inquest, which delved into the tragic deaths of four Indigenous women, has sparked urgent calls for immediate action from the government and police to stem what Coroner Elisabeth Armitage described as an “epidemic of violence”.
Tragic Cases Highlight Systemic Failings
The coroner’s investigation centered on the heartbreaking stories of Miss Yunupiŋu, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja and Kumanjayi Haywood – four Aboriginal women whose pleas for help went unheeded in the weeks, months, and even years leading up to their untimely deaths. Despite reporting fears for their safety to authorities and loved ones, these women were failed by a system that should have protected them.
Shockingly, the perpetrators in each case had well-documented histories of family violence and were known to police. Yet, the warning signs were repeatedly ignored, with tragic consequences. As Caitlin Weatherby-Fell, CEO of Top End Women’s Legal Service, put it: “It’s getting worse. It’s beyond critical. There are almost no words to describe how serious this crisis is.”
Staggering Statistics Paint Grim Picture
The coroner’s findings paint a chilling picture of the scale of domestic violence in the Northern Territory. With a domestic homicide rate seven times the national average, Aboriginal women in the NT are a staggering 40 times more likely to be hospitalized due to family violence than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
There doesn’t seem to be any appetite to be responding to this problem in a way that actually provides an adequate response as well as prevents it.
Caitlin Weatherby-Fell, Top End Women’s Legal Service CEO
These sobering statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive, proactive measures to protect vulnerable women and hold perpetrators accountable. As Weatherby-Fell noted, the current response is woefully inadequate, with little apparent appetite for the kind of sweeping changes needed to turn the tide.
Police Overwhelmed, But Promising Steps Ahead
NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy acknowledged that domestic, family and sexual violence “overwhelms police”, but pointed to several initiatives aimed at improving the force’s ability to respond effectively. These include tighter bail laws, the establishment of a dedicated domestic violence portfolio, and a program to employ 25 Aboriginal language speakers in the police emergency call center.
In the last seven days we have had 1,156 calls to DV and sadly that’s a 30% decrease on the week prior, so it’s still a huge consumer of policing services.
Michael Murphy, NT Police Commissioner
While these steps are encouraging, Murphy stressed that tackling the scourge of domestic violence requires a whole-of-government approach, with prevention and education across agencies like health, housing, and family services playing a critical role alongside law enforcement.
Coroner’s Report a Clarion Call for Change
The release of the coroner’s report marks a pivotal moment in the fight against domestic violence in the Northern Territory. By shining a light on the systemic failings that have allowed this “epidemic of violence” to flourish, Coroner Armitage has issued a powerful call to action that cannot be ignored.
If we’d seen that many women die in a small country town, relatively speaking, anywhere else in the country, we would see national outrage – quite rightly so. We don’t see that in the Northern Territory.
Micaela Cronin, National Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
As National DFSV Commissioner Micaela Cronin noted, the scale of tragedy unfolding in the NT demands a response commensurate with the gravity of the situation. With eight more women and one sistergirl losing their lives to domestic violence in the Territory since June alone, the time for half-measures and Band-Aid solutions has long passed.
Government Funding Must Reach Frontline Services
While both the federal and NT governments have committed substantial funding to combat domestic violence, concerns remain that this money is not reaching the frontline services where it is most desperately needed. Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy emphasized the importance of directing resources to women’s shelters and family violence organizations.
I’ve certainly been speaking to the women’s shelters, the family and domestic violence sector. I know they need that funding and I would urge the Northern Territory government to actually spend where it’s required, to assist those sectors.
Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians
As the NT government reviews the coroner’s recommendations, it is crucial that funding allocations prioritize the grassroots organizations and service providers working tirelessly to support survivors and prevent further tragedies.
A Clarion Call for Urgent, Decisive Action
The coroner’s report serves as a devastating indictment of the failures that have allowed domestic violence to reach crisis levels in the Northern Territory. But it also presents an opportunity – and indeed, an obligation – for those in power to finally take the decisive action needed to protect vulnerable women and hold perpetrators accountable.
For the sake of Miss Yunupiŋu, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja, Kumanjayi Haywood, and countless other Aboriginal women living in the shadow of violence, we must heed the coroner’s call and demand urgent, comprehensive reforms. The time for talk is over. The time for action is now.
