Media statement: Report into missing and murdered First Nations women and children

National violence prevention organisation Our Watch has welcomed the report into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children, released yesterday. 

The Senate Committee made 10 recommendations including: co-design with First Nations families and communities, review of police practices, sustainable funding mechanisms, a senior First Nations appointment to the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, work by media to consider portrayal of missing and murdered First Nations women and children, improved data, and an audit of the Attorney-General's Department.  

Acting Chief Executive Officer Jilly Charlwood said the inquiry and report have laid bare the need to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s voices and to respond. 

“The inquiry heard evidence of what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have long known: that this is an immense crisis made up of countless tragedies affecting people right across the country. It is heightened by systematic racism, discrimination, poverty and trauma,” Ms Charlwood said.  

“We acknowledge the leadership and strength of countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who contributed to this inquiry being established.   

“We also acknowledge both the deep sadness and the courage of the witnesses who have shared the details of their loved ones’ murders and disappearances, and who have highlighted the systemic failings that provide the foundation for the report’s recommendations.  

“We know First Nations women experience disproportionately high rates of violence, and violence that is often more severe and more complex in its impacts. This violence is perpetrated by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men.  

“Preventing this violence must be a national priority. It requires hearing, valuing and believing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, along with dedicated attention and investment”. 

The report contains clear recommendations which, if implemented, could contribute to overdue systemic reform, including ensuring police interactions are culturally safe, appropriate, consistent and of a high standard. It also paves the way for the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to shape solutions, stronger governance, greater investment in services, better data and more appropriate media reporting. 

Our Watch Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy, Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal woman Regan Mitchell said the number of First Nation women missing and murdered is not only devastating, but unacceptable.  

“For anything to change we first need to be honest about why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience violence at the rates we do,” Ms Mitchell said.  

“Ongoing impacts of colonisation and deeply embedded racism, discrimination and bias in our society, systems and structures create a breeding ground where violence against our women is more likely to occur and be accepted. Our lives do not hold the same value as the lives of our white counterparts and this is a national shame. 

“This violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is not a blackfella problem. It’s an Australia problem. And it’s way past time for it to stop”. 

Our Watch gave evidence to the inquiry, based on its national framework to prevent violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women, Changing the picture. The framework was developed with extensive consultations and evidence about the intersecting underlying drivers of violence against First Nations women.   

“The report of the Senate Committee provides an important blueprint for reform,” Ms Charlwood said. 

“We stand alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, organisations and communities across Australia in calling for long overdue change, and commit to our part in preventing violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children”.