The Albanese Labor Government is taking significant steps to tackle intimate partner homicide and improve reporting on this issue. In line with their commitment to ending violence against women and children in Australia, the government has announced the implementation of a new statistical dashboard to provide more timely and accurate data.
Currently, official reporting on intimate partner homicide relies on the Australian Institute of Criminology’s National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP), which is updated annually. However, to truly understand the scale of the problem and work towards effective solutions, closer-to-real-time data is essential.
The new dashboard, set to be released by mid-2024, will offer quarterly updates, allowing police, policy makers, governments, and all those involved in the fight against violence to have a better understanding of the situation as it unfolds. This is a significant development, particularly as we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and kick off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
According to the most recent NHMP data available for 2020-21, alarming statistics reveal that one woman loses her life to intimate partner homicide every 14 days in Australia. Additionally, approximately 60% of adult female victims of homicide in the country are the victims of murder or manslaughter by their current or former intimate partners.
This new dashboard is a crucial step towards achieving the goals outlined in the 2022-2032 National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, which aims to reduce female intimate partner homicide by 25% each year. It will complement the government’s record $2.3 billion investment in addressing family, domestic, and sexual violence through prevention, early intervention, responses, and support for recovery and healing.
Various government officials emphasized the gravity of the issue and the importance of accurate data. Senator Katy Gallagher, the Minister for Women, stressed the need for up-to-date information to support efforts in ending violence against women and ensuring their safety. Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth highlighted how the impact of violence on women and children extends throughout society and welcomed the implementation of the dashboard. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus emphasized the importance of transparent reporting to address the problem effectively.
The release of the statistical dashboard will provide greater transparency and enable better-informed decision-making surrounding intimate partner homicide. By shedding light on this critical issue, the Albanese Labor Government is taking a significant step towards realizing its vision of a future where violence against women and children is eradicated. With accurate and timely data, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and support organizations can develop targeted responses to address this pressing problem in Australian society.
