NT Coroner Urges Major Reforms After Inquest Into Domestic Violence Deaths

A landmark inquiry into the deaths of four Aboriginal women calls for sweeping changes to address the Northern Territory’s domestic violence crisis.

The Northern Territory coroner investigated the killings of four Aboriginal women by their partners, highlighting systemic failures in addressing domestic violence.
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage made 35 recommendations, including increased funding for crisis services, a peak body for domestic violence, and expanded rehabilitation programs.
The NT has the highest domestic violence rates in Australia, with intimate partner homicides seven times the national average and a recent surge in deaths linked to domestic violence.
The inquest criticized inadequate police resources, insufficient perpetrator programs, and the lack of a coordinated response to family violence in the region.
A follow-up inquest is scheduled for August 2025 to assess progress on the implementation of the recommended reforms.