Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Albanese Government has tabled its response to the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children.
The Government acknowledges the First Nations women and children whose lives have been cut short through horrific acts of violence, and those who are missing.
The Government thanks the survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence who made submissions to and appeared before the Inquiry, and family members who made submissions and spoke on behalf of loved ones murdered or missing.
The Government also wishes to thank Committee members for their considered and sensitive approach while conducting their hearings.
The findings and recommendations of this important Inquiry will now inform a range of work currently underway to address the horrific rates of violence against First Nations women and children.
This includes informing the standalone National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan being launched next year, which will be led by First Nations people and provide direction for future policy approaches.
Nationally, First Nations women are seven times more likely to be homicide victims than non-Indigenous women, and of those women, 75% are killed by a current or former partner.
First Nations women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence than non-Indigenous women.
This is a national shame.
Media organisations have an important role to play in addressing some of the issues raised in the Inquiry.
The report highlights the deep concern among First Nations people that disproportionately little media coverage is given to missing and murdered First Nations women and children.
The Minister for Indigenous Australians is writing to the Australian Press Council to ask that it carefully review the relevant report recommendation and consider providing clear and tailored guidance on coverage of missing and murdered First Nations women and children.
Careful consideration of the needs of First Nations families and communities is of paramount importance in media coverage of these cases.
Addressing the appalling rates of family violence experienced by First Nations women and children requires a concerted effort involving all governments.
States and territories have primary responsibility for law enforcement, including policing and justice system responses to family, domestic and sexual violence.
In May, the Prime Minister convened a National Cabinet with state and territory leaders on gender-based violence and commissioned a Rapid Review into Prevention Approaches.
In September, the Albanese Government committed $4.4 billion in new funding to address gender-based violence and respond to the Rapid Review.
That investment includes $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal assistance services, to be delivered through a new National Access to Justice Partnership.
National Cabinet agreed to maintain a central focus on missing and murdered First Nations women and children.
National Cabinet also agreed that all government commitments on gender-based violence must explicitly consider the needs and experiences of First Nations people and be delivered in genuine partnership with First Nations communities.
The Albanese Government is leading a range of important initiatives to respond to gender-based violence, particularly through the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Last year, the Government also released the first ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan that underpins the National Plan.
This is supported by $194 million to fund specific actions and support the safety of First Nations women and children.
From next year, the standalone National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan will stand alongside the National Plan.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"The Government has carefully considered the findings and recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children.
"We acknowledge the women and families who made submissions and appeared before the Committee and thank them for their bravery in coming forward.
"We also acknowledge the frontline services and organisations who appeared before the Committee.
"The Albanese Government is committed to working with First Nations people and organisations to address the horrific rates of family violence experienced by First Nations women and children."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher:
"We are resolute in our commitment to ending the scourge of violence against women and children in every part of the country - whether in our cities, towns, or remote communities.
"This Inquiry report is confronting, but that is why it is necessary. It will inform much of the work our government has underway, including informing the work of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan from next year."
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus:
"This report reveals the devastating impact of violence against women and children in First Nations communities.
"Ending violence against all women and children is a priority for the Government and we have committed $4.4 billion in new funding to tackle gender-based violence, including landmark investment in legal assistance with a 64% increase in funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and a 112% increase for Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth:
"We are listening to, and working in partnership with, First Nations leaders to address the disproportionately high rates of violence against First Nations women and children.
"It is unacceptable and it must end.
"Along with state and territory governments we want to end gender-based violence in one generation for all Australians.
"We've already begun work towards this, including through our first-ever First Nations National Plan. We also are looking at ways that we can ensure Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are receiving more support to do the work in communities to help address family and domestic violence."
