November 25th 2024.
Attention: Readers who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are advised that this article contains the names of individuals who are deceased. The tragic loss of four Aboriginal women at the hands of their partners has been found to be a part of a larger issue of domestic violence homicides, contributing to what can only be described as a national shame. After a thorough coronial inquest, Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has released her findings into the deaths of these women - Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Miss Yunupingu, and Kumarn Rubuntja - at the hands of their partners.
Speaking directly to the families of the victims who were present in the courtroom, the coroner acknowledged the difficult and heartbreaking nature of these proceedings. She reminded them that although they were discussing the worst of times and the tragic deaths of their loved ones, it is important to also remember them as the happy, smiling individuals that they were. In presenting her findings, the coroner herself will remember them in this way.
The courtroom was filled with a wide range of individuals, including family members, friends, representatives from social services, police officers, and national officials. This gathering was a reflection of the widespread impact of domestic violence in the Northern Territory. In her recommendations, Judge Armitage outlined 35 actions that she believes are necessary to address this issue. She emphasized that these recommendations are not radical or new, but rather a positive step forward because we already know what needs to be done.
One of the key recommendations made by the coroner was for the Northern Territory government to release the minimum of $180 million in funding for the social sector without any delay. She also called for funding to establish a peak body in the Territory that can respond to the shocking levels of domestic violence. As the Domestic and Family Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin sat in the courtroom, the coroner emphasized the need for this funding in order to combat the horror of domestic violence.
Judge Armitage did not shy away from acknowledging the failure of both government and non-government agencies to effectively address this issue. She pointed to the high rates of incarceration in the Northern Territory, quoting Deputy Commissioner Michael White who testified in 2023 that domestic, family, and sexual violence rates are at "epidemic proportion". While discussing a potential co-responder model between police and social services, the judge warned that without proper funding, this pilot program is likely to fail.
The inquest also revealed that there are inadequate or non-existent programs available for young men who perpetrate violence or for those who are incarcerated. This is a serious gap that needs to be addressed. Over the course of the inquest, the coroner's office became aware of 86 domestic violence deaths of women in the Northern Territory, with the majority being Aboriginal women over the last 24 years. Shockingly, since June of this year, eight more Aboriginal women and one sister girl have died, all of whom were allegedly victims of domestic violence.
The number of domestic violence deaths in the Northern Territory is truly shocking, according to Judge Armitage. Not only is the violence more relentless, it is also more vicious. Weapons are often used and the injuries inflicted on the victims often result in hospitalization. As the coroner reviewed the lives of each of the four women, she emphasized that they were more than just statistics. They were individuals who lived rich lives and were deeply connected to their culture and kinship.
The coroner highlighted the importance of understanding the lives of these women in order to fully comprehend the nature of the problem. She reminded the court that these women were more than just numbers, they were loved and cherished by their families. Despite a review of all domestic violence killings in the Northern Territory since 2000, Judge Armitage noted that the number does not include missing women or deaths that are closely connected to domestic violence, such as suicides. She warned that in the future, these women must also be accounted for, and the picture will only become bleaker.
In a strong message to both services and the Northern Territory government, the coroner declared that another inquest will take place in August 2025, focusing on the deaths of more women who have been killed by domestic violence. This will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in implementing the recommendations outlined in this inquest. In the meantime, support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT. Let us all work together to put an end to this national shame.
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