Rate of domestic violence in NT rises post Christmas

Dawn House Women and Children’s Shelter has shared that the number of cases related to domestic violence in the Northern Territory rose over the holidays. The shelter claimed that it picked up more calls for help directly after Christmas.

Acting executive officer at Dawn House Nicole Fearn has stated that they have supported a total of 78 people in November 2016. She recalled that the number of domestic violence incidents slightly decreased during the early days of December but ramped up again before 2016 ended.

"I would say it's people making an attempt to live up to that pressure of Christmas time, to make it a family time where everyone's happy together," Fearn told the ABC. However, things had a dramatic turn after Christmas time and domestic violence asserted itself again.

Fearn further stated that the perpetrator usually blows up just after Christmas. She maintained that women and kids need to get out to safety.

In relation to this, Dawn House said the demand always outstripped supply. "Unfortunately we could be full five times over with the amount of need that's out there in the community," Fearn said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its latest data which indicates that the authorities have recorded more than 4,000 victims of domestic violence-related assault in NT in 2014. OurWatch, a domestic violence body, said that on average, at least one woman per week is murdered by a partner or former partner in Australia.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has established domestic violence as a priority for him, urging the country to "elevate this issue to our national consciousness." He has described the country’s domestic violence rates a "national shame" during the first leaders' summit last year.

"It is a disgrace. We should have zero tolerance for this," he told reporters at the summit in Brisbane.