North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency board backs chair Hugh Woodbury

The NT’s Domestic Violence Minister says it’s ‘totally inappropriate’ for a perpetrator to lead the Territory’s largest justice agency, as NAAJA defends giving its chair a second chance.

Australia’s largest Aboriginal legal aid organisation has defended knowingly appointing a man guilty of assaulting his pregnant partner to the top job.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency board has backed its chair Hugh Woodbury, saying he should be given a second chance after his aggravated domestic violence assault four years ago.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Kate Worden said it was “totally inappropriate” for Mr Woodbury to remain in the role, calling for him to be sacked.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency board has backed the appointment of its chair Hugh Woodbury, amid recent reports of an aggravated assault on his then-pregnant partner in July 2020. Picture: Che Chorley

In a statement on Tuesday, the NAAJA board said it was aware of Mr Woodbury’s “historic family-related incident”, and that he had been given a non-conviction order, when he was appointed as the chair in April this year.

“Mr Woodbury undertook extensive family counselling following the incident and, with the ongoing support of his partner and extended family, he has worked hard to get his life on track,” the board said.

“Family violence is a serious issue across Australia, particularly for Aboriginal people who are over-represented in the statistics as both victims and perpetrators.

“This is why NAAJA has long advocated for improved services to support not only victims of family violence but also perpetrators, who need to have the opportunity to address the drivers of their actions and make amends.

“People who do the hard work to turn their lives around deserve a second chance.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Kate Worden. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Ms Worden said Mr Woodbury should be removed as chair.

“It’s totally inappropriate that he is in that position as a leader for such a significant and important organisation,” she said.

“I think there’s lots of opportunities for a second chance – get involved in a program and make sure that you’re passing on the knowledge and the growth that you’ve had as an individual, but leading a very important Indigenous organisation here in Northern Territory is not the place for someone that has been a DV perpetrator.

“There has to be something within our society that says ‘this is wrong’.”

NAAJA has defended Mr Woodbury, saying he had worked to get his life back on track.

Court documents reveal Mr Woodbury was intoxicated when he assaulted his 17-week pregnant partner at their Alice Springs home in July 2020.

During the incident Mr Woodbury yelled at his partner, repeatedly called her a “c**t” and threw items at her.

When she went outside, Mr Woodbury blocked her from returning inside, slamming the sliding door shut on her arm.

Mr Woodbury then dragged her away from the door and pushed her to the ground.

As she crawled on the ground he attempted to drag her again but fell over instead, standing on her stomach as he got up.

When police arrived he had a blood alcohol reading of 0.154 — three times the legal driving limit.

Mr Woodbury told police he could not remember the assault, stating: “(There’s) no excuse for what I done. Not sure why did it. I need help”.

In October 2020 Mr Woodbury pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated assault and was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond and $150 fine.

The NAAJA board said Mr Woodbury was currently on a scholarship with the Australian National University to study an arts degree.

“Through his role at NAAJA (he) is dedicated to improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal people across the Territory,” it said.

The NT and federal governments are rolling out programs to rehabilitate domestic abusers through Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, something the Territory Coroner has described as the “missing piece of the puzzle” during her inquest into four domestic violence homicides.

The victim of Mr Woodbury’s drunken assault on the evening of July 2020 called only for one thing in his sentencing: “counselling”.

The Alice Springs man had worked as an Indigenous family liaison officer for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and as a welfare rights officer for the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.