DV sectors stands by coroner as CLP strategy looks past inquiry recommendations

Twelve months on from the NT coroner’s landmark inquiry into domestic violence in the Territory, the DV sector says not enough has been done to implement the recommendations.

Twelve months on from the NT coroner’s landmark inquiry into domestic violence in the Territory, the DV sector says not enough has been done to implement the recommendations.

Last year Coroner Elisabeth Armitage delivered 35 recommendations out of Australia’s largest ever domestic violence inquest into the deaths of four Aboriginal women killed by their partners.

A joint statement by DV services across the Territory has expressed “deep concern” about the CLP government’s “lack of recognition regarding the importance of this inquest”, and uncertainty about whether the coroner’s recommendations would be implemented at all.

“Miss Yunupingu, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja and Kumanjayi Haywood’s families and communities offered extraordinary strength, courage and knowledge to the inquest in the hope that no other family would endure such loss,” the statement said, signed by groups including the NT Council of Social Services (NTCOSS), legal aids, women’s shelters and Tangentyere Council.

“The contributions of their families and communities to the inquest should be at the heart of all Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence reform in the NT, guiding the implementation of the Coroner’s recommendations and the broader work to prevent violence.”

On Tuesday the government released its three year strategy and road map to reduce domestic violence, coinciding with a global 16 days of activism campaign.

The coalition of DV services said the absence of any reference to the coronial findings in the strategy “erases the contribution and sacrifices made by the victims’ families and the sector”.

DV Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill said she had made her views on the coroner’s recommendations clear. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Asked about the omission in Question Time on Tuesday, Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill said she had made her views on the coroner’s recommendations “very clear”.

“Quite frankly, the recommendations that came from the coroner rehashed a whole bunch of programs that really did not do what they were meant to do,” Ms Cahill said.

“I do not need to know that a thousand people have been through a men’s behaviour program, I need to know how many of those men have actually changed their behaviour.

“This strategy and its associated road map are designed to show results.”

Five Aboriginal women have allegedly been killed by their partners in the NT in the past 12 months.

Domestic and family violence accounts for more than 60 per cent of assaults in the Territory, and more than 80 per cent of police time is spent responding to DV incidents.

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) chair Rob McPhee said family violence was “a Territory-wide crisis”, of which Aboriginal women bore the “heaviest and most devastating impacts”.

“One year on from Australia’s largest DFSV coronial inquest, we must collectively hold ourselves accountable,” Mr McPhee said.

“We need real investment in exactly what the coroner identified: prevention, early intervention, community leadership and culturally responsive support.”

Remembrance bench to be place in Darwin Harbour and frontline workers celebrated

A public memorial honouring the lives taken by domestic and family violence was announced in Darwin on Wednesday by Australia’s Domestic Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) Commissioner, Micaela Cronin.

The remembrance bench, which will overlook Darwin Harbour, will be a place to honour the lives lost to domestic and family violence and support survivors.

“This bench will be a place where sorrow meets strength – where the pain of loss is acknowledged, and the power of healing and hope is nurtured,” Ms Cronin said.

The announcement was made at an event at Darwin’s Waterfront where frontline professionals and community leaders were celebrated and inspirational stories shared.

The event was put together by the United Nations Association of Australia NT and the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Network.

Dawn House chief executive, Ana Aitcheson. Picture: Lottie Hood

Dawn House chief executive, Ana Aitcheson, said it was a rare opportunity to focus on some of the “amazing” work going on in the DFSV space and be inspired by “incredible” people during the 16 Days of activism.

“We don’t come together for things like this,” she said.

“One of our speakers said today, our frontline staff look these women and children in the eyes and know what they’ve been through, they carry that home every single day.

“It’s important that we come together and we can show them that there is still hope.

“The work is really, really hard, but the differences and the woman and children that you are saving is real.”

On the subject of the government’s new strategy, Ms Aitcheson said many working in the sector welcomed the move but were “disheartened” by how it had been announced.

“We are really pleased to see it, just a little bit disappointed in how it’s been ‘launched’ because we should be celebrating that we’re all coming together and doing this, and we are committed to it,” she said.

Originally published as DV sectors stands by coroner as CLP strategy looks past inquiry recommendations