One instance of domestic violence anywhere is unacceptable, but 75,000 cases in the Northern Territory in the last three years is beyond the pale, and requires immediate attention by the authorities.

“Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has revealed the depth of the NT's domestic violence problem, saying officers have responded to 75,000 cases (80% Aboriginal) in the past three years, with 44% of orders breached by offenders.”

This is sickening and begs the question, what can be done about it? The NT Coroner, Greg Cavanagh reported that domestic violence was "out of control" in Aboriginal communities! Is another Royal Commission warranted into yet another disgraceful occurrence up north?
Hopefully the rabid right will not turn this into an opportunity to do some “Abbo Bashing” and will offer some constructive suggestions as how to deal with the problem. Police intervention, although absolutely necessary, is an end response to the problem, and not a solution. The causes of domestic violence in the territory is deep seated, and difficult to tackle, but must be dealt with ASAP.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-22/domestic-violence-cases-in-northern-territory/7868592

Paul1405,

So the ambulance-chasing, headline-hunting Greens have finally discovered what everyone else has known for years?

Sure makes the public wonder why the Greens and Labor have wasted so much of the parliament's time on gay marriage.

Mark Latham was right,

<FORMER Labor leader Mark Latham has slammed his party’s “obsession” with gay marriage saying it should focus on the nation’s “Struggle Streets” instead.

He told 3AW radio Bill Shorten’s private members bill to push for changes to the marriage act to allow same-sex couples to tie the knot, to be introduced into parliament on Monday, was nothing more than a symbolic gesture.

He said the biggest social issue facing Austalia was unemployment, drug use and homelessness in suburbs such as Mt Druitt which was the focus of the SBS documentary, Struggle Street. [also issues that affect DV researchers say]

“If you are interested in equality and social justice in Australia then what was the really big event in the month of May,” he said. “We had the Struggle Street documentary which revealed that in the nation’s public housing estate, most notably in Mt Druit people live in conditions that you wouldn’t wish upon your dogs. Absolute chaos, despair and hopelessness in their lives.
“And surely, you would have expected a serious national response from the party of social justice?
“We didn’t hear anything.
“They’re obsessed, instead, by gay marriage.”>

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/former-labor-leader-mark-latham-slams-labor-over-gay-marriage/news-story/6c89f7077536bf321ee40c25946e6f0f

"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1990–2005) was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives."

Archbishop John Howard the Magnificent didn't approve of the character of the man elected as chairman of ATSIC. He overthrew this elected piece of Aboriginal dignity and brought it under his saintly patronage by appointment. So the troops were sent in to restore self-respect . ( Howard's that is ). ( And Abbott's, praise the lord). Internment camps for these foreign suspects are expected with good order and barbed wire.

Beach, as I suspected you would be the prime culprit when it comes to politicizing a terrible violent problem within our society. I forgot there is no place for Aboriginal people in you ideal society. Yes its all the fault of Labor and The Greens. What a mug!

I have a deal to do with the rural Maori community in northern New Zealand. I see in them many of the same parallel problems, but maybe not to the same degree as in the Aboriginal community in the NT, poor education, unemployment, poverty, housing, alcohol abuse, medical drugs and crime. But one thing that is not evident to any great degree is domestic violence, and according to my partner it never has been, its simply not tolerated by the community. I am told the reasons are the ideal of respect is very strong, family and community bonding is very powerful, the extended family is very important and must be respected and maintained. The elders within the society still retain a powerful, if not a ruling voice, they tend to be conservative in outlook, and very much respected by all. With no break down of society, stability is maintained. To be so different there has to be some social collapse within Aboriginal society in the NT.

Paul, watch this
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2016/09/19/4539321.htm

An Army on Wheels and Helicopters of Psychologists, Drug/Alcohol Counselling services, Social Worker, Support Services.

Tripling of Policing numbers in "hot spots" wouldn't hurt. The Police cannot cope and are under resourced and too much is expected from them. - 6 months training is woeful to handle people with serious mental health and violence issues.

Politicians always say they do not have the money while spending it on something else, like a football stadium, their priorities are DEAD WRONG 90% of the time. Canberra cries "poor" while wasting the budget on unnecessary BS

The cause of this goes back to 1967 Referendum. The day the new laws etc were passed a whole section of society who had never really had an experience with handling Alcohol or knowledge of it's effects walked into the nearest Pub to celebrate their new found "freedom" - for that group it was like setting match to a tanker of petrol.

Unlike other australians (where alcoholism and it;s effects were well known) the aboriginal people had no such knowledge or experience skill about how it would affect them.

NO "responsible use of alcohol" classes were done, no info, no support no nothing. Here ya go get drunk as.

50 years later it could not be any other way - this is LOGIC and obvious. Yet still insufficient help resources is provided.

The rights of "business" to sell alcohol for 50yrs superseded people's health and the damage done.

The cause and responsibility for today goes back those 50 years and is imho, a collective responsibility on the basis of their Human Rights for "Health Care" and "education" - it is not a law enforcement issue alone.

The domestic violence is a Symptom of all the past neglect across generations. Poverty triggers DV, many things do.

20-25% of all aboriginals in the NT? Wouldn't their % for DV be naturally higher and obvious?

DV is not only a aboriginal problem is an Aust wide crisis. It all comes back to PTSD of growing up in dysfunctional homes, with DV and alcoholism as children.
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Outcomes are the same, few make it thru, most succumb to drug/alcohol abuse, "self-medicating" the internalized pain depression anxiety - all VERY normal COMMON - known for DECADES

Children that suffered sex abuse at home or others start drinking early, it makes you "feel better" and then it doesn't - one is caught in a vicious cycle of TORMENT and Confusion and FEAR.

People tend to avoid being honest so do not seek help.

Worse in aboriginal communities because issue mentioned before, PLUS for generations they have been struggling with entrenched PTSD from many causes (stolen gen etc).

No one can manage or fix PTSD etc by themselves. It's needs long term access to medical support.

Govt house, welfare, or JOB cannot fix broken hearts, broken minds. Proper Psychotherapy can, but it is still difficult.

So most end up in poverty, stuck, with their own DV alchoholic partner (m/f) or jail.

Wash, Rinse and Repeat

Watch and listen to Jimmy Barnes on Q&A this week
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s4515750.htm

Billy Connolly's autobiography (buggered by his drunken dad when 10)
Billy was lucky, he married a Psychiatrist!

NRL star - alcoholic DV home sexually abused - committed suicide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Jackson_(rugby_league)

Damien Rider?
http://vimeo.com/141523955?from=outro-embed
http://www.theriderfoundation.com/

There is a plague across Australia, there are not enough resources, nor acceptance by society it is a CRISIS.

People can't face the truth - we blame the victim, easier - pull ya socks up - it's your fault!

On top of this living today is 2 to 3 times more stressful than 50 years ago. The insecurity people are facing is MASSIVE across society. Suicidal thoughts are off the charts - for good reason.

90% of the issues go back to childhood trauma, abuse, DV, alcoholism in the HOME.

That leads to unstable teens years. Problems in relationships, work, school, the law, can't think straight or make good choices.

DV victims grow up to be a new perpetrator when the PTSD kicks in.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat!

Politicians and People need to GET REAL.

We need a new way to think and communicate about life and problems
http://youtu.be/CwHBD7Ihy5U
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