'More violence in more homes': Jump in family violence during pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns to deal with it have led to a big spike in domestic violence and other forms of abuse, with two-thirds of victims reporting violence for the first time.

"There has been more violence in more Australian homes. The severity of violence has increased and COVID is actually being weaponised within the home as a tool of abuse," Natasha Stott Despoja, chair of campaign group Our Watch, told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Domestic violence campaigner Natasha Stott Despoja says the coronavirus pandemic has led to "more violence in more Australian homes".Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

A survey of 15,000 Australian women found nearly one in 20 suffered physical or sexual violence from their current or former partner between March and May. Two-thirds of these said it was the first time. Nearly one in eight reported experiencing at least one form of emotionally abusive, harassing or controlling behaviour.

Frontline domestic violence workers around the country have also reported increases in the frequency and severity of violence during the pandemic, with many hearing from women for the first time. Services in Canberra said new domestic violence cases in June more than doubled compared to last year, while two-fifths of Victorian frontline workers said in April - during the first lockdown - they saw a rise in first-time violence.

On the Easter weekend, there was a 600 per cent increase in reports of so-called revenge porn. Reports of financial abuse are on the rise too, with the pandemic used to justify controlling behaviours like limiting access to money.

"How could we not be haunted by this violence, Australia?" Ms Stott Despoja said.

"I know that many of you are sickened by the stories, the statistics, the body count, the slaughter in the suburbs and I know we can't go on like this, so does this awful crisis bring an opportunity for change? I hope so."

The sharp spike in family violence during the pandemic shows it is still the national emergency Ms Stott Despoja declared when she launched Our Watch in 2013. And she says the rates of violence towards Indigenous women are a "national shame".

She wants to see the response and recovery to COVID-19 address domestic violence directly and promote gender equality to deal with the underlying causes of abuse.

Women have borne the brunt of the economic devastation, but much of the government's targeted response so far has gone to male-dominated industries like construction. The free childcare welcomed by so many women suddenly looking for work ended after three months and the sector's workers were the first to be pulled off JobKeeper.

Ms Stott Despoja called for a "gender lens" to be cast across the October 6 budget.

"Of course infrastructure and a range of other things are important in order to get this country back on its feet," she said.

"But gender lens - are we looking at the industries that have been hit hardest? Are we looking at those feminised or female-dominated sectors that have proved so valuable to dealing with this pandemic and yet are not being supported?

"We can actually use this as an opportunity for a transformative agenda when this comes to our economy and society."

For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

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