Christmas, New Year mark peak in domestic violence in Australia

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
24 Dec 2023 11:10

Over 60 women have been killed in Australia in violent attacks this year, according to statistics.

A college student holds a sign as she participates in the College Bride's Walk from Barry University in Miami on February 8, 2013. (AFP)

Australia has witnessed a distressing surge in domestic violence, particularly targeting women, with over 60 reported cases of violent killings this year, often perpetrated by partners, The Guardian reported.

The Counting Dead Women Australia initiative, managed by Destroy the Joint researchers, meticulously tracked incidents of violence against women. The tally included a recent stabbing incident in Plympton, South Australia, where one woman, Julie Seed, lost her life. Experts caution that the holiday season tends to exacerbate the risk, emphasizing the urgency of addressing domestic violence. Another source, Australian Femicide Watch, reported a slightly higher figure of 74 such cases.

The Australian government has reportedly introduced a novel system to monitor cases of individuals in Australia who lose their lives due to violence inflicted by a current or former partner.

Rising incidents of family violence reported during holidays

Data compiled by No to Violence (NTV), an organization focused on engaging men to combat family violence, indicated a notable increase in reported incidents of family and domestic violence to police during the Christmas and New Year period across Australia.

In December 2021, Victoria recorded an 11% higher number of family incidents compared to the yearly average. New South Wales witnessed a quarter of a year's family violence murders in January 2022, while the Northern Territory reported a 58% surge, Queensland experienced a 112% rise, and Tasmania saw a 75% increase in domestic violence incidents on New Year's Day. According to Phillip Ritter, CEO of NTV, there are various factors contributing to this trend.

“Financial pressures are particularly acute right now with the cost of living crisis,” he said, as quoted by The Guardian.

“There may be tensions between ex-partners with shared custody arrangements, including negotiating changeover times and locations; people might have differing expectations around festivities, and they may be isolated from their usual community or other supports," he added.

“On top of that there may be increased use of alcohol or other substances," he stressed.

As per a recent report from the Australian Institute of Criminology on Homicide in Australia, there were 2,102 cases of intimate partner homicides recorded between 1989 and 2021. Of these victims, three in four (1,589) were female.

Calls for a royal commission into family violence were intensified in South Australia after four women died within a week. In response to these incidents, the premier, Peter Malinauskas, announced the initiation of a one-year royal commission.

The fatalities served as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge society faces in combating domestic violence, according to Malinauskas. He stated that the terms of reference for the royal commission would be disclosed in the coming year.