NT Domestic Violence experts ‘disappointed’ over 2024 election commitments

‘Do you know who can’t contribute to an economy — a dead woman’. NT Domestic violence experts slam pollies’ election pitch.

NT Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Minister Kate Worden and Opposition DFSV spokesman Steven Edgington.

Experts have accused Territory politicians of leaving abuse survivors off the election map, calling both sides’ response to the violence crisis “sickening”.

Labor and the Country Liberal Party have revealed their domestic violence platform with just 200 days left on the election countdown, but both have baulked from a major funding recommendation.

A comprehensive mapping plan by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Interagency Coordination and Reform Office found $180m was needed over five years to address the scale of abuse in the Territory.

To fully fund the ICRO plan would cost an average of $36m a year — a less than a quarter of what was budgeted for the Tiger Brennan Dr-Berrimah Rd overpass.

However, neither side has pledged to reach the $180m funding target.

One of the Territory’s pre-eminent domestic violence experts Chay Brown said this response was “really disappointing”.

“Neither party seems particularly knowledgeable, or trustworthy on DFSV,” Dr Brown said.

“I cannot tell you how absolutely sickening I find that.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the way to fund the domestic violence recommendation was through economic growth, setting a target of a $40bn economy by 2030.

Gender-based violence specialist Chay Brown at Darwin Local Court following her coronial testimony on Thursday November 9.

But Dr Brown said this was a “gross” response that ignored the $600m annual cost of DFSV to the Territory’s health, police, court system and the ripple effects on youth crime, homelessness and lost productivity.

“We need to remember that we’re talking about people’s lives,” she said.

“And do you know who can’t contribute to an economy — a dead woman”.

On average a woman is killed by her partner every four months in the Territory, with a domestic homicide rate seven times the national figures.

In the 12 months to November, NT Police responded to 8476 domestic violence assaults, a 20 per cent jump from 2022.

Dr Brown said while Labor was celebrating years of underdelivery in the DFSV space, the CLP policy showed little understanding about the drivers of abuse.

“You can see the absence of specialist knowledge,” she said.

Dr Brown said the CLP policy conflated the drivers of domestic violence with “tough on crime” narratives about alcohol policies and prisons.

“It takes a real commitment to promoting gender inequality and addressing the ongoing impacts of colonisation alongside those really targetted direct actions to promote accountability,” she said.

Acting Policy Manager Sophie Hantz said given the urgency of the DFSV “crisis” the Northern Territory Council of Social Service would continue to meet with candidates in the lead-up to August.

NTCOSS senior policy officer Sophie Hantz. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“It is vital that funding is substantially increased to provide effective prevention, early intervention, response and healing to victim survivors and people who use violence,” Ms Hantz said.

“A co-ordinated effort, across the Territory, is required, and services and programs should be culturally safe, community-led and place based.”