Truth-telling, action and justice
We stand behind the national call for truth telling and action on murdered and disappeared First Nations women and children
Content warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article names a woman who has died. Her name is used with her family's permission.
On 11 June, a national roundtable at Government House called for urgent, coordinated action on the murder and disappearance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. Violet Co stands behind that call.
This is not abstract work for us. We have previously called for an inquest into the death of Kardell Lomas and have worked with numerous other First Nations families grieving a loved one. Kardell is one of the lives behind a national number.
Between July 1989 and June 2023, at least 476 First Nations Women and Children were victims of homicide. The real figure is higher. The gaps in the data are part of the crisis.
Roundtable participants gathered outside Government House
Source: Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission
Our Principal Solicitor, Karen Iles, was part of the roundtable on 11 June. She sees first hand, through Violet Co’s work, what happens when the systems meant to keep women and children safe fail them. Karen is also the Deputy Chair of the National Justice Project - their work also focuses on access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.
The National Justice Project represents the families of many missing and murdered First Nations women and children - particularly in inquests. The roundtable hosted by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, at Government House, and was co-convened by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, and the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin.
The report puts four priority calls to government:
Account for what has been done since the 2024 Inquiry
Make this crisis a national priority, in every state and territory
Deliver honest, nationally consistent data
Establish culturally appropriate ways to remember the women and children who have been taken
You can read the report and the Commission's statement here: (https://www.dfsvc.gov.au/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-children-roundtable-report).
The solutions are already known. What is missing is the sustained commitment to deliver them. We will keep contributing to this national conversation, and we stand with the families and leaders who have carried it for far too long.
If this article raises concerns for you, 13YARN offers a First Nations crisis line on 13 92 76 or1800 RESPECT is available on 1800 737 732.
