NT breaks new records for domestic violence, Ngeygo Ragurrk inquest hears

The NT already has record-high rates for domestic violence but modelling shows the trend could increase further.

A “terrible tidal flow” of domestic violence is expected to hit the Territory over the next decade unless action is taken now, an inquest has heard.

Assistant Commissioner Michael White told coroner Elisabeth Armitage that domestic violence rates in the Territory had hit record-breaking levels, with no sign of decline.

Mr White told the Ngeygo Ragurrk inquest on Monday that over the past 10 years abuse in Territory homes has increased by 117 per cent.

And he warned that police modelling showed domestic violence rates could increase by a further 73 per cent by 2033.

With crime rates increasing across the board, Mr White said there were not enough police to meet the needs of vulnerable victims.

Assistant Commissioner Michael White told coroner Elisabeth Armitage that domestic violence rates in the Territory had hit record breaking levels, with no sign of decline. Picture: Jason Walls

“I think the reality is that we don’t have enough people to attend all jobs in a timely manner and why we have to prioritise where we go first,” he said.

Mr White said the Territory was meeting the minimum staffing levels for police officers, but given the rising crime rate “it’s clear that those minimum standards aren’t enough, to me”.

“I think we are attending to the critical crisis points when an event is occurring or just occurred,” he said.

Mr White agreed with counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer, who said more holistic responses were needed to “stop that terrible tidal flow”.

“You (are) advocating for some radically different forms of investment and approach over the coming years to prevent really, the system coming into complete breakdown because of being overwhelmed,” Ms Armitage added.

Mr White said while it was important to focus on prevention decades down the line, there were still victims that needed help today.

“We can’t just focus on one end of the spectrum to solve it in 20 years time … we’ve got to treat what is happening now,” he said.

Mr White said police were developing a pilot co-response program in Alice Springs for 2023-24, which would allow domestic violence specialists to work alongside police heading to family violence incidents.

Mr White said he hoped domestic violence sector funding would increase across the Territory, particularly to “holistic” services.

“It starts with children and educating them on respectful behaviours, respectful relationships,” he said.

“The only way we’re going to prevent further harm to the community — and women and children particularly — is to change the behaviour of men.”

It comes after Ms Armitage expressed her frustration over comments by the NT Police top brass about domestic violence, saying there was a perception that “there is one reality for (frontline police) and the work they do, and another reality for the executive”.

On Friday, then-acting assistant commissioner James O’Brien was stood down from his acting role after an ABC interview where he downplayed his officer’s experience of domestic violence.

Mr O’Brien said testimony presented to the coroner “may have been mistaken”, and denied that police were at “breaking point”.

On Friday, then-acting assistant commissioner James O’Brien was stood down from his acting role after an ABC interview where he downplayed his officer’s experience of domestic violence.

On Monday Mr O’Brien walked back those comments, saying he had been briefed with “recommended answers” from the police legal team after ABC sent him four questions in advance.

“I should have been more informed, and understood the gravity of it,” he said.

But Mr O’Brien maintained domestic violence rates were not at crisis levels — which he defined as “sudden, and is quite complex and difficult to get a control of”.

“But what we’re dealing with across domestic violence, it’s essentially an ingrained lifestyle for some people. So it’s more a chronic issue,” he said.

Ms Armitage said she was very concerned that the senior member of the police was “so ill-informed and prepared to provide inaccurate information in a public forum”.

“Whilst he doesn’t consider it a crisis, I do.”

Originally published as NT breaks new records for domestic violence, Ngeygo Ragurrk inquest hears