Support for national indigenous family violence strategy

Commonwealth, State and Territory Community Services Ministers gave their formal support for a national strategy on indigenous family violence at the New Zealand and Australian Community Services Ministers meeting in Wellington, New Zealand today.

Federal Minister for Community Services Larry Anthony said there is an urgent need for all States and Territories to work together on this issue.

“Indigenous people are 45 times more likely to be victims of domestic violence than the non-indigenous community, and in some areas, one in every four deaths of indigenous women are the result of domestic violence,” said Mr Anthony.

The meeting supported a national strategy on indigenous family violence that will ensure each community services portfolio maintains strong links with each other to develop early intervention and prevention programs and child protection policies and services

“The Commonwealth has a responsibility to coordinate the development of a national strategy on indigenous family violence,” said Mr Anthony.