Aboriginal women the ‘hidden victims’ of sexual violence

Aboriginal women killed as a result of sexual and domestic violence are Australia’s ‘hidden victims’, a relative of an Indigenous teenager who died after being assaulted has told federal politicians.

Jacinta Price, Meesha Long and Cheron Long. Picture: Gary Ramage

Aboriginal women killed as a result of sexual and domestic violence are Australia’s “hidden victims”, a relative of an Indigenous teenager who died after being assaulted has told federal politicians.

As sexual assault and harassment allegations engulf federal politics, the cousin of Layla Leering, who died in the Northern Territory in 2017, told politicians about the “toxic, vicious community culture” which sees Indigenous women experience violence at significantly higher rates than non-Indigenous women. Indigenous women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence.

Cheron Long delivered the speech alongside Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Price to a group of Coalition MPs and senators, including outgoing MP Nicolle Flint.

“There is alcohol-fuelled violence in our community every day, too much drunk fighting,” the mother of two said. “It is not a safe or healthy environment for our kids. On any given day you can see and hear women getting assaulted.”

Her cousin, Ms Leering, was one of three teenagers whose deaths were investigated by NT Coroner Greg Cavanagh last year after police first deemed them to be suicide. But her family members believe she was murdered and Mr Cavanagh has since ordered the police investigation to be reopened.

Ms Long told the group Indigenous women were forced to live with an “Aboriginal rape culture”.

“Sexual abuse is accepted as normal in too many Aboriginal communities,” she said.

“There are so many young girls out in the bush who have no voice and are too afraid to talk up, to tell the world what is happening to them. They are forced to be silent.

“These young ones are the hidden victims.”

She said it was painful to see Change the Date marches focus on abolishing Australia Day while the high rate of violence experienced by Indigenous women and children in remote communities was sidelined.

“Australia needs to see what my mob go through every day,” she said.

Ms Price said: “Aboriginal women are Australian citizens and we deserve to be heard just like other Australian women.”