Aboriginal violence soars out of control
15.10.1999
SHOCKING new evidence of spiralling domestic violence in indigenous communities has prompted Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Herron to order a nationwide check on hospital admissions.
Senator Herron said last night he was horrified by one community where the rate of Aboriginal women admitted to hospital after domestic violence had risen by 76 percent.
In 1998-99, 268 women were seriously hurt in domestic violence compared with 152 the year before. The number of non-indigenous women admitted for domestic violence in the same community increased from just one to two.
The town, which Senator Herron refused to name, had a population of between 30,000 and 50,000 and about a third were Aborigines.
The new evidence also reflected bleak times for Aboriginal men. The numbers admitted to hospital as victims of serious violence in the town increased from 77 to 156, a jump of 102 percent. For the town's non-indigenous men, the increase was from 10 to 15 cases.
Senator Herron said the trend of huge increases in family assaults warranted an immediate survey across the nation.
``This is an indicator from only one town _ it worries me that this may be a developing pattern across the nation,'' Senator Herron said.
His figures also showed a 65 per-cent increase in the number of young women (15 to 34) being bashed and admitted to hospital. There were 98 in 1996-97 and 162 in 1998-99 in the town. The figures only showed the number of admissions, with the number of out-patients or those who did not make it to hospital tipped to be even higher.
Aboriginal nursing and health expert Gracelyn Smallwood said women and children became the victims when alcohol and drug abuse led to forced sex and violence.
``Violence is out of control. It is no longer a secret that our people have Third World health statistics, but the situation is exacerbated with alcohol-induced violence,'' Ms Smallwood said.
``It is not a secret in indigenous communities who the perpetrators are. Our men have to start taking responsibility for their own actions.
``Because of the hopelessness in which most indigenous people live, they are taking out their frustrations on those closest to them _ their women and children.''
North Queensland Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson said recently the most dangerous day in the life of an Aboriginal woman or child ``is the day the welfare cheque arrives''.
``The men get drunk the children are neglected and the violence starts,'' Mr Pearson said.
A 300-page report with more than 120 recommendations is due to be handed to state Aboriginal Affairs Minister Judy Spence next week.
Griffith University's Boni Robertson and a committee of 15 indigenous women have taken evidence throughout the state into violence and alcoholism among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Senator Herron, who recently committed $6 million of federal funding to counter Aboriginal domestic violence, obtained his latest figures on one hospital.
They were compiled by a medical colleague after the Minister became frustrated at the lack of state and territory figures on indigenous domestic violence.
