‘Shockingly high’: DV organisations call for urgent change as ‘horror’ year continues

Already 18 women have been killed this year in Australia. Leaders in the domestic violence space are saying enough is enough.

Anti-domestic violence leaders and women’s advocates across Australia have called upon both federal and state governments to consider urgent changes after a string of horrific crimes that have shocked the nation.

The deaths of 18 women have already been allegedly caused by violence this year, 10 of which were allegedly killed by a partner or family member.

Multiple men’s deaths have also been linked to domestic violence this year, including beloved Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird who were allegedly murdered last month in Paddington.

Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird were killed last night. A 28-year-old man has been charged with their murders. Picture: Facebook

After the deaths of three women in just two days across March 8 and 9 – figureheads in the space are now saying enough is enough, with urgent action needed to combat what they says has been a “horror” year.

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, who is chief executive of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, said the numbers at the moment were “shockingly high”.

Dr Boyd-Caine said politicians needed to take notice of the action happening at a local level when it came to educating and stopping perpetrators and bring it to a national scale.

“There is no question that we need financial support when it comes to housing, we also need to understand what is driving the issue,” she said.

“The vast majority of this violence does not end in homicide and it’s just as important to pay attention to that.”

Elizabeth Shaw, who is chief executive of Relationships Australia, also believed government investment in perpetrator programs was the change the nation desperately needed to see.

Steven and Min Cho were killed last month along with a seven-year-old child. Picture: Instagram

“I think the public would be quite shocked to know that we really don’t invest that much in behaviour change programs in me,” she said.

“They are very small programs with very low investment. We need to take more seriously programs and court programs for these men displaying violence instead of letting them run amok in the community.”

Ms Shaw said people in the domestic violence space had been left “horrified and devastated” by the string of deaths being reported in the media over recent months, however, hoped the tragedies would lead to change.

Ballarat community members hold a vigil at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park for missing woman Samantha Murphy, after 22 year old local Patrick Stephenson was charged with her murder. Picture: Mark Stewart

“We shouldn’t estimate the toll it takes when you see a valuable life cut short at the hands of someone else,” she said.

“I don’t think people look at the news and turn away where people are finding out what happened to the stranger, I think it can lead to very open conversations.”

One of the most heartbreaking cases for Australians has been the lengthy search for the body of Samantha Murphy, a mum who failed to return home from a jog in Ballarat. A 22-year-old man has since been charged with her murder.

The body of mum Samantha Murphy still hasn’t been found. Picture: Facebook

Acting chief executive of Our Watch Cara Gleeson said high-profile murders such as Ms Murphys were simply “the tip of the iceberg” when it came to violence across Australia.

“Violence against women is a national crisis,” she said.

“Hundreds of thousands of women are impacted by men’s violence and abuse every year. That’s why when it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero.”

Ms Gleeson called upon every state and territory government to introduce respectful relationships education in school.

“Every school can teach and equip young people with age-appropriate skills on relationships, consent and equality,” she said.

Women allegedly killed in 2024

There is no suggestion of guilt or innocence in relation to the individuals listed below and who are facing charges.

January 2, 2024: The body of Janice Walker, 68, was found in her home at Urangan, Queensland. It’s suspected Janice was killed by her partner who also ended his own life.

January 5, 2024: Mother-of-two Alison (Ali) Robinson, 39, died in a fire at her home in Sanders Street, Glenorchy, Tasmania. A man is charged with her murder.

January 7, 2024: Nerol Doble, 65, was killed in a fire at her home in Bribbaree, New South Wales. Her son is charged with her murder and other offences.

January 26, 2024: Mother-of-six Bonnie Lee Anderson, 39, died in hospital 16 months after she was attacked by her former partner Daryl Allan Robertson at her home in Charnwood, Australian Capital Territory. Robertson was originally sentenced to 27 years in jail for attempted murder. Robertson used a knife and a series of homemade blow torches in the assault on Bonnie. She never left hospital.

January 28, 2024: Mum-of-two Keira Marshall, 29, died from a gunshot wound at a home in Morayfield, Queensland. An 18-year-old has been charged.

January 28, 2024: Mum-of-four Alana Martin, 30, was killed in her home at Owanyilla, Queensland. Her former partner has been charged with her murder.

February 2, 2024: Antoinette (Toni) Tozer, 76, and her son, Steven Tozer, 55, were allegedly killed in their home at Rosewater, South Australia. A neighbour is charged with their murders.

February 3, 2024: Teacher and grandmother Vyleen White, 70, was allegedly stabbed to death at the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, Redbank Plains, Queensland. A 16-year-old male is charged with her murder and three other youths are facing other charges.

February 4, 2024: Mum-of-three Samantha Murphy, 51, disappeared while on a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, Victoria. On March 7, police charged a 22-year-old with Samantha’s murder.

February 7, 2024: Donna Baraket was killed in her home at Tweed Heads, New South Wales. Her tenant is charged with her murder.

February 9, 2024: Samira Kamaleddine, 81, died almost five weeks after she was beaten and choked at the Bankstown Hospital, Bankstown, New South Wales. A man is charged with her murder.

February 16, 2024: Mother-of-two Amarjit Kaur Sardar was allegedly killed at Woodhill, Queensland. Her husband is charged with her murder and interfere with a corpse.

February 16, 2024: Mum-of-five Rebecca Young, 42, was stabbed to death by her partner Ian Butler at her home in Sebastopol, Victoria. After killing Rebecca, Butler ended his own life.

February 19, 2024: Mother Min (Sue) Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old boy were allegedly strangled to death at the Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy, North Parramatta, New South Wales. Min’s husband Steven Cho was killed at their home in Baulkham Hills. A man is alleged to have killed all three of the victims.

February 27, 2024: Mum-of-four Natasha Nibizi, 29, was killed in her home at Doolandella, Queensland. It’s believed she was murdered by her former partner Habib Bayat. After killing Natasha, Bayat ended his own life.

March 8, 2024: An unnamed 60-year-old woman was stabbed to death and her body dumped in the boot a car at Evans Head, New South Wales. Her son is charged with her murder.

March 8, 2024: Social worker Joanne Perry, 53, was stabbed to death by her daughter, 26, at Kett Street, Lower plenty, Victoria. Police responded to a call for help and shot and killed the younger woman after she refused to drop her weapon.

March 9, 2024: Chaithanya (Swetha) Madhagani’s body was found in a padlocked wheelie bin on Mount Pollock Road, Buckley, Victoria. It’s believed the mother-of-one was dumped there after an incident at her home in Point Cook. Her husband then left Australia. No one has been charged.