Calls Grow for Urgent Action on Violence Against First Nations Women in Australia
Government response to landmark reports on domestic violence criticized as insufficient, with advocates demanding immediate funding and systemic change.
- First Nations women in Australia are seven times more likely to be victims of homicide, with 75% killed by current or former partners, according to a recent national inquiry.
- The federal government acknowledged the findings but has not committed to implementing the inquiry's 10 recommendations, citing shared responsibilities with state and territory governments.
- A separate Northern Territory coroner's inquest into the deaths of four Aboriginal women identified systemic failures and issued 35 recommendations, including improved police practices and expanded support services.
- Advocates and frontline workers have criticized delays in allocating $180 million in pledged funding, emphasizing the urgent need for resources to address the crisis.
- Media coverage and systemic desensitization to violence against Indigenous women were highlighted as barriers to meaningful change, with calls for cultural shifts in reporting and policymaking.
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation 
The Guardian 