The Federal Government has responded to a Senate Inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children, saying the findings will help “inform” its future policy directions.
It has supported six of the inquiry’s 10 recommendations, and will ask the Australian Press Council to review guidelines on how to cover stories relating to murders of First Nations people.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malandirri McCarthy called the existing rates of gender-based violence against First Nations people a “national shame”.
The inquiry
The inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children was launched after a November 2021 Senate vote, led by First Nations Senators Dorinda Cox and Lidia Thorpe.
The Senate’s legal affairs committee led the inquiry. It analysed:
- Rates of reported murders and disappearances
- Police investigations into the murders and disappearances
- Causes of violence against First Nations women and children.
Findings
The inquiry noted various issues impacting investigations into the murder and disappearances of First Nations women.
This included inconsistent data-gathering across states and territories, as well as obstacles facing First Nations women and children trying to seek legal support.
The committee said it was “disturbed” by claims of “racist, sexist, disrespectful, unprofessional and negligent” treatment of murder investigations and missing persons reports.
The inquiry’s final report made 10 recommendations, including ensuring police forces across every state and territory have “a high standard [of] cultural awareness and safety”.
It also suggested targeted funding for First Nations women and children experiencing, or at risk of, violence.
The committee also proposed reviewing national efforts to end gender-based violence and meet the ‘Closing the Gap’ targets, to look at whether the Federal Government’s interventions are effective.
Govt response
The Government gave its full support to one recommendation: taking steps to ensure First Nations women are involved in designing and implementing anti-violence measures in their communities.
It gave ‘support in principle’ to five other recommendations and ‘noted’ another three — meaning it won’t take any specific actions on the suggestions.
One recommendation was for the Australian Press Council. It was asked to reflect on “how the media portrays cases of murdered and disappeared First Nations women and children”.
The Government also ‘noted’ this recommendation, however, McCarthy has said she will ask the Council to consider providing “clear and tailored” guidance on “coverage of missing and murdered First Nations women and children”.
McCarthy called the rates of murder and violence against First Nations women and children “a national shame”.
She pointed to data collated from national health and criminology agencies showing that First Nations women are 33 times more likely to end up in hospital than non-Indigenous women, and seven times more likely to be murdered.
“Of those women, 75% are killed by a current or former partner,” McCarthy said.
Opposition
Shadow Minister for Women Sussan Ley said: “Improving the safety of women and girls is above politics.”
In a speech to Parliament commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Ley urged unity in addressing gender-based violence.
“It requires all levels of government from all political persuasions to continue to work together, the policy levers span across Commonwealth and State lines.”
