Reported domestic violence related incidents increase in Walgett, Moree, Dubbo and regional NSW

Regional communities across NSW are experiencing major increases in domestic violence. See where your town ranks in the latest data.

Regional towns across the state are experiencing a spike in reported domestic violence incidents, with a rural town in Northern NSW ranked highest in reported incidents.

Domestic violence related assault increased by 8.7 per cent in the two years to June, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, with 4130 incidents recorded between 2022 and 2023.

Northern NSW’s rural town of Walgett had an alarming 3542 domestic violence related incidents reported per 100,000 residents, followed by Moree Plains and Broken Hill.

The September report found Dubbo is ranked eighth on the list, with 590 reported incidents in the past year.

Mission Australia Central and Far West area manager Megan Boshell said that while the statistics aren’t surprising, “it is obviously very disappointing” and something the agency is working with the community towards bettering.

Mission Australia provides temporary accommodation, counselling services and programs specialising in family and drug and alcohol support.

Pictured is the sign for Walgett on the Castlereagh Highway in NSW. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We know that there is a significant lack of private and social housing … which can make it very difficult for people to remove themselves from violent situations or be able to find ongoing accommodation that allows them to live in a safe and sustainable environment,” Ms Boshell said.

She added drug, alcohol and poor mental health are participating factors to driving homelessness and domestic violence in the region.

istock generic: woman, abuse, DV, domestic violence, harassment, sexual harassment. Little Girl Crying With Shadow Of Parents Arguing – Home Violence And Divorce. Picture: istock

“There is an ongoing conversation across different communities about what constitutes violence and what that looks like for different people – I think there are a lot of incidents where violence goes unreported,” she said.

A spokeswoman for not-for-profit family violence prevention legal service Thiyama-li based in Walgett, Moree and Bourke said the towns have held a similar statistic for multiple years.

“There’s a lot of factors, one being drugs and alcohol – there’s an ice epidemic here [Moree],” the spokeswoman said.

She said the service offers free family, domestic and sexual violence support, including legal advice and referrals.

“The ideal situation is for the numbers to go down, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, I think it’s going to keep increasing like it has been,” she said.

The 10 NSW areas with most cases of domestic violence reported incidents between July 2022 and June 2023 per 100,000 residents:

1. Walgett – 3542

2. Moree Plains – 1990

3. Broken Hill – 1834

4. Coonamble – 1721

5. Inverell – 1183

6. Kempsey – 1126

7. Narrandera – 1099

8. Dubbo Regional – 1062

9. Narromine – 1054

10. Wentworth – 1041

Woman, abuse, DV, domestic violence, harassment, sexual harassment. Picture: istock

Western Sydney University professor and Centre for Western Sydney executive director Andy Marks said insufficient government investment in domestic violence support service continues to be a problem in regional NSW.

“Encouraging people to report violence, then not properly resourcing the follow-up services can exacerbate the problem,” Mr Marks said.

“Increases in domestic violence figures deserve greater focus then the political attention directed towards interest rate rises or house prices.

“The impact of violence in low-income households is compounded by the current housing crisis.

“It reduces the agency of survivors, who may not be able to secure alternative housing.

“This is coupled with the fact that older women are among the fastest growing groups of homeless Australians.

“Governments need to treat this issue with urgency.”