Feds accuse NT govt of ‘blame-shifting’ in fight against domestic violence

The commonwealth says the Territory is getting a ‘significant’ amount of domestic violence funding, a claim NT government and local advocates have disputed.

The federal government has delivered a scathing response to repeated pleas for more funding in the fight against the Territory’s domestic violence scourge.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the Territory was receiving more than its per capita share in a national partnership for domestic violence responses, a claim the NT government and local advocates have disputed.

It comes as a four-month inquest into the murders of four Aboriginal women continues in Darwin.

DFSV Prevention Minister Kate Worden has repeatedly called for needs-based funding. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The coroner has heard three Territory women are killed each year on average, with more than nine in 10 of those victims being Aboriginal, and domestic violence-related homicides in the NT are seven times higher than the national average.

In September Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Kate Worden wrote to the federal government requesting a substantial increase in commonwealth funding to fight DV, this masthead understands.

Ms Rishworth later accused the NT government of “blame-shifting”, asking it to explain possible delays in the rollout of existing funding.

“Any suggestion the commonwealth is not responding to the situation in the NT does not acknowledge the commitments we have made and serves to play politics and indulge in blame-shifting, when all governments should be focused on working together,” she said.

Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Rishworth said the commonwealth was investing $147m over four years for family and domestic violence services in the Territory.

“Not all of that goes to the Northern Territory government – a lot of it is direct funding to organisations on the ground,” she said.

“This is a significant investment and we do see the seriousness of the problem.

“The Northern Territory government receives funding ($28.8m) above their per capita allocation under the National Partnership on family, domestic and sexual violence responses, in recognition of the unique needs of their jurisdiction.”

Hundreds gathered across Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Lajamanu and Galiwinku for the Day of Action in September calling on both the NT and federal governments to commit to needs-based funding. Picture: Fia Walsh

However in a letter to Ms Rishworth obtained by the NT News, Day of Action organiser Maree Corbo said the federal government’s contribution was “shamefully inadequate”.

“Needs-based funding is adequate, long-term funding that can be used to fund core service delivery … the current approach to funding is scattershot, short-term, and one-off,” she wrote in September.

“We recognise the critical role that the Northern Territory government also has to play in this space … we expect collaboration between both (governments).

“The current situation is untenable.”

Acting Minister for DFSV Prevention Eva Lawler said current levels of federal investment were a “drop in the ocean” when it comes to addressing the DV crisis.

“Since Territory Labor won government in 2016 the total spend of funding for domestic, family and sexual violence services is more than $260m, of this just over $61m was contributed by the commonwealth,” she said.

“There is a national pool of funding to fight domestic, family and sexual violence and the Territory receives 1 per cent of that share.

“It is not good enough, we need more and we will continue to fight until we get more.”

The commonwealth’s National Indigenous Australians Agency is currently reviewing all grant activities, with a report due in December to inform future funding decisions.