Spate of violence against women sparks emergency crisis talks

The domestic family and sexual violence commissioner is convening emergency crisis talks ahead of next month’s federal budget.

Sexual and Family Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin on Friday. Picture: David Crosling

The Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner is convening emergency crisis talks with advocates, experts and survivors ahead of next month’s federal budget, which is expected to result in calls on government for targeted spending to curb the devastating rates of murdered and missing women in Australia. 

Tasked with overseeing the national plan to end violence against women and children, Micaela Cronin will draw together stakeholders from across the country to develop a clear plan on how to bring down the number of female murders – 24 already this year.

The announcement of the emergency roundtable comes as Anthony Albanese said this week it was increasingly clear violence against women was “far too prevalent” in Australia, particularly following recent shocking attacks such as at Westfield Bondi Junction. Of the six people stabbed to death by Joel Cauchi at the popular Sydney shopping centre, five were women.

The number of women slain in other attacks, such as Samantha Murphy in Ballarat, prompted rallies this week demanding an end to the targeted violence.

Ms Cronin said it was clear urgent action was needed to address the spate of violence and achieve tangible outcomes in the national plan to end violence against women and children.

“Women are going missing and being murdered at horrendous rates in this country,” she told The Weekend Australian.

“Too many women are taking their own lives following their experiences of family violence.

“This is a national crisis. We need to break down the silos and bring people together from across the country to address this complex issue.”

On average, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every nine days, while more than 4600 were hospitalised due to such violence in 2021-22.

Representatives of the Australian Institute of Criminology, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Safe and Equal, and researchers from leading universities will all be at the May 7 roundtable, after which a communique with clear calls on government is expected to be produced.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Picture: David Crosling

VACCA chief executive Muriel Bamblett said urgent attention was required particularly in regards the rates of Indigenous women being killed or going missing.

“We need urgent system reform, real action on really obvious red flags. Aboriginal women deserve to be seen and heard,” Ms Bamblett said. “It’s time to make men accountable for their actions. All accountability is placed on the woman’s shoulder, and the system is designed to make them feel that they are the person in the wrong and have to prove themselves to all services.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said on Friday the “scourge” of male violence in Australia must end.

“We have to do more. We know we can do more,” he said.

The crisis talks and calls for more action are expected to heap pressure on Labor to announce additional measures in the May 14 budget aimed at lowering the rates of violence towards women.