[Greens-Media] Political point scoring on crime stats ignores domestic violence

[Richards, Kirsten]

The Liberal and ALP stoush over crime statistics is a cheap political point scoring exercise and both parties have ignored the failure of successive governments to address our increasing rates of domestic and family violence, the Greens said today.

The comments were made by Alison Xamon, Greens spokesperson for Women and Children following recent court cases in which women were murdered at the hands of their partners and woefully inadequate sentences were handed down.

"While the Barnett Government is busy competing with the ALP over who is tougher on crime, both parties are failing to acknowledge that they have not succeeded in reducing the rate of our appalling domestic and family violence statistics," Ms Xamon said. 


"From July 2010 to June 2011 there were 9,772 domestic assaults in WA, up from 8,532 the previous year. This is just completely unacceptable," said Ms Xamon. 

"We also need to remember that these are not just statistics, they represent real people who have become victims of violence in their own homes."

It is also widely acknowledged that these figures underestimate the actual incidence of domestic violence due to gross under-reporting and inconsistencies in recording assault types.  

"It is essential we have some political focus and leadership on this issue," said Ms Xamon. "We need to send a strong message that we care about domestic and family violence and homicide and that the continued high incidence of these crimes will no longer be tolerated". 

"It takes political will to address this difficult issue, and to break the cycle of violence and hold perpetrators of that violence accountable for their actions. The Barnett/Grylls Government needs to stop patting itself on the back over their claims of reduced crime and recognise that some of the most heinous forms of abuse are well on the increase," Ms Xamon concluded.