WESNET MEDIA RELEASE
17 December 2004
How many more deaths will it take? asks WESNET Chair Pauline Woodbridge, before the Commonwealth seriously tackles the systemic violence suffered by Indigenous women in Australia.
A recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report* shows that Indigenous Women are 12 times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women.
This is a shocking fact said Shirley Slann WESNET’s National Indigenous representative, the amount of violence endured by Indigenous women and children is untenable.
Ms Slann goes on to say, the report findings that the more remotely people live, the more likely they are affected by this particular major cause of death, does not surprise me. Ms Slann who works in the rural and remote region of the North West Queensland is talking to the community members everyday. The lack of services in rural and remote areas is appalling, services could help stop some of this violence and assist communities to find solutions to the endemic violence against women and children but the lack of dollars, the rigid funding guidelines and lack of will to work with communities, all contributes to the continuation of this appalling situation.
Sue Brownlee, Northern Territory representative for WESNET said the problem is getting worse, when will the Australian people give all its citizens a fair go and demand that our government turn their attention to the very real problems being borne by the Indigenous and non Indigenous women and children of this land?
Terrorism on the world stage? said Terri Francis WESNETs Tasmanian representative. We have terrorism happening in our homes, in our suburbs, in our communities – lets not forget that. It is clear from all the latest research, most of it funded by governments, that violence against women and children is a huge and costly societal problem.
In fact, said Ms Woodbridge, it costs Australia $8.2 billion per year. Currently the Commonwealth Government is spending our tax money on its election promises, while women and children continue to die from violence. This country should provide safety for all its citizens. When can Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous women expect to be safe?
For comment please contact:
Pauline Woodbridge, National Chairperson, 07 47 212888 or 0419 739774
Terri Francis, Tasmanian Representative, 03 6344 6535 or 0419 340 643
Julie Oberin, Victorian WESNET Representative, 0419 539 346
*Helps, Y.L.M & Harrison, J.E. (2004) “Reported injury mortality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, 1997-2000″. Injury Technical Series No4. (AIHW cat. no. INJCAT 66) Adelaide:AIHW.
