The Central Land Council wishes to acknowledge the pain and hurt that families and communities experience from domestic and family violence right across Australia. We are saddened to hear of the increase in women being murdered at the hands of their partners and ex-partners.

We know that the rate of domestic and family violence-related homicide in the Northern Territory is seven times the national average. The majority of women killed are Aboriginal. Despite this shocking statistic, the NT receives just 1% of federal domestic and family violence funding. We know that men need to be supported to address their use of violence and break the cycle so that our young men do not grow up behaving this way.

We also know this is a systemic issue that must be addressed. At the moment, we are stuck with funding to address domestic and family violence based on population, not based on evidence or need. Without adequate funding, Aboriginal-led solutions cannot be developed and implemented. The way forward cannot be business as usual. We desperately need significant reform.

“The Central Land Council needs to work with other Aboriginal organisations to take a leadership role to tackle domestic violence. We know there is a problem and there is a lot of work to be done. We need to show how much we honour and value our women. We are nothing without our women and children. They are our future.” Chair Matthew Palmer said.

The Central Land Council respects men and women equally and believes that justice will only be achieved when our women and children are safe from harm and our men can find a way forward that does not include violence.

“What we need is preventative education and programs for men at all stages of their lives. We need to educate our young people. There should be workshops and forums across the region to get men acknowledging the problem of violence and how it is impacting them and their families,” deputy chair Warren Williams said.

The Central Land Council welcomes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement this week of $925 million towards addressing domestic and family violence.

We acknowledge that domestic and family violence is a shocking problem, and we all have a role to play in finding a solution. We call on the Commonwealth and NT governments to commit to:

  • Provide the NT with needs-based funding that is desperately needed for prevention and support programs.
  • Strengthen efforts to support the targets of the Closing the Gap National Agreement that align with reducing incarceration and improving safety.
  • Invest in culturally relevant and meaningful men’s healing programs that support breaking the cycle of violence.
  • Support place-based, community-led initiatives that ensure women’s and children’s safety so they can safely remain in their communities.

Domestic and family violence affects all of us from all walks of life. The Central Land Council will continue talking to our members about what actions we can take and join with the rest of the nation to address this national crisis.

Quotes from delegates

“We want to run programs for men; we want to talk with men. We need to talk about violence, have a conversation, and be open about it. Men want to take responsibility. Us mob who have been through it can talk with them,” CLC delegate Ronald Brown.

“Young people need opportunities like sports, training and safe spaces to talk with older people. In my community, we have a men’s shed and women’s shed. Us older men used to be there with younger men to talk about good ways, to support young men’s. We need to bring these things back,” CLC delegate Patrick Oliver.

Contact: Tess O’Loughlin | 0461 396 054 | media@clc.org.au

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