Helen Secretary: Domestic violence in the Territory has ‘never, ever been this bad’

In the 1990s, Helen Secretary shot her abusive husband in fear of her life. More than 20 years later, the Larrakia woman says Territorian women are more vulnerable than ever before.

Helen Secretary says domestic violence in the Territory is a growing issue. Pic Glenn Campbell

As the nation comes to terms with the number of women killed at the hands of their partners, Larrakia woman Helen Secretary says the Territory’s domestic violence scene is as bad as it’s ever been.

Ms Secretary, who made legal history in the 1990s when she was cleared of murdering her abusive husband, told the NT News that women – and children – were more at-risk of being harmed than ever before.

“It has never, ever been this bad,” she said.

“Domestic violence has been a problem for a very, very long time, but it has escalated.”

Her case, Secretary v The Queen 1996 was the first time in the nation’s history ‘battered syndrome’ was recognised in the context of self defence, marking a significant win for women experiencing domestic violence at the hands of their partners.

Ms Secretary said she believed there was a “clear” cause for the violence that women experienced across Indigenous communities.

“It is alcohol - it is a very big problem for communities,” she said.

“I’ve been saying this for over a decade that a lot of it is alcohol that causes the problem - our people never used to be like this, but it has changed.”

Larrakia woman Helen Secretary is hoping a national conversation around domestic violence will bring positive change to the Territory. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Secretary said the intervention-era had also exacerbated the issue.

“Families were moving out of the communities to go into town, dragging their kids with them so they can consume more alcohol and they would end up sleeping on the streets,” she said.

“Before that, people stayed in community and if there was problems with domestic violence the kids and wives would go to a relative’s house where they had a place to stay and be fed.”

Ms Secretary said the violent behaviour had been laid bare for the rest of the population to see.

“When you talk about non-Indigenous people, a lot of the violence is behind closed doors,” she said.

“For a lot of Indigenous people, they don’t care - they can be in the shops, the park, East Point, wherever.

“If that happens in broad daylight right in front of you, you can imagine when they’re home.”

CLP candidate for Nightcliff Helen Secretary (left), with Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro (right). Picture: Supplied.

Ms Secretary said courts needed to enforce domestic violence orders and rehabilitation directives if women and children were to be protected.

“I’ve had families members go through (court) for this stuff and, in my opinion, the court orders are not strong enough,” she said.

“I raised 14 kids – seven of my own – because the parents of other kids drank and I didn’t.

“They knew my home was a safe haven and theirs wasn’t.”

Ms Secretary, who is running as the CLP candidate for Nightcliff, said she would continue to advocate for victims of domestic violence.

“I will work with anyone trying to make changes that will protect women,” she said.

“It’s not about the colour, I believe all women that go through domestic violence in Australia is a very sad thing.

“We are human beings and we should be treated like that.”