For every one woman killed by a current or former partner in Australia, 10 women will die by suicide after experiencing domestic violence. Suicide rates among female rape and sexual assault victims is also high.
In November, the Federal Government established an inquiry into domestic violence-related suicides. Submissions closed on January 30.
There’s only been 16 public submissions submitted to the inquiry – and it’s not hard to see why.
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Media reports about the inquiry announcement were scarce, public advertising on social media and other platforms seems to be very limited and the decision to run the submission timeframe during the holiday period means almost no one is going to have the headspace to sit down and write to the inquiry.
Families and friends are the people most affected by domestic violence related suicides (I like to call these femicide by proxy). Imagine asking someone grieving the loss of a loved one over the Christmas New Year period to put to paper at what is often the hardest time of year for the bereaved?
This is what Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek did and honestly, if it this isn’t a ham-fisted attempt to prevent Australians from really understanding what is going on I will eat my fucking hat.
In 2024, the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches recommended the inquiry take place.
UTS Business School Professor of Domestic Violence Anne Summers is well-versed in the systematic failures underpinning our family abuse epidemic.
She supported the inquiry recommendation and has been pushing for those in the sector and for families and communities to put their submissions in.
She flagged her disappointment last week in a post on LinkedIn, saying Minister Plibersek must extend the submission deadline for at least a few months so the committee has adequate time to do its important work and for them to have the ‘widest possible’ input from the community.
“For too long now, we have failed to investigate properly suicides by women who have suffered domestic violence,” Anne writes.
“Their numbers should be added to the annual toll of domestic and family violence deaths and the inquiry is looking into just that.
“Problem is, so few people know about the inquiry, there have been only 16 submissions and NO PUBLIC HEARINGS and – worst of all – the closing date for submissions is January 30.
“Given that the inquiry was only established in November, right before the busy Christmas and holiday time, this committee has not been given adequate time to do its important work.”
I urge everyone to send a respectful email Minister.Plibersek@dss.gov.au, asking for the submission deadline to be extended.
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