JOINT MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2025
NT Government’s Domestic Violence Reforms Will Harm, Not Help, Aboriginal Communities
27 March 2025 – The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NAAFLS) and the Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU) express deep disappointment over the lack of meaningful consultation in the NT Government’s recent amendments to the Domestic and Family Violence Act and the Police Administration Act. These amendments were made without proper consultation with Aboriginal legal services and communities, raising concerns about their disproportionate impact on Aboriginal people.
While the NT Government claims these changes will strengthen protections for victims, they fail to address the core systemic issues and will disproportionately harm Aboriginal people. Increasing punitive measures, such as mandatory sentencing for breaches of Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs), does not create safety—it entrenches the over-criminalisation of
Aboriginal communities and ignores the need for early intervention and culturally safe responses.
“We know from experience that a punitive approach does not work. Mandatory sentencing has been shown to disproportionately impact Aboriginal people, particularly in remote communities, where systemic racism and a lack of legal support already result in high incarceration rates,” said Ms Cindy Torrens, Chief Executive Officer of NAAFLS. “The NT Government has ignored the voices of Aboriginal organisations and instead pushed forward with laws that will further entrench these injustices.”
“If the Government wants to make change in our backyard, then come and speak to us. Stop pouring money into the same old system that fails to heal, continues to harm and widens the gap for our people,” said PC Clarke, the CEO of CAAFLU. “Every single day we keep Aboriginal women and children safe. Where is the investment in Target 13? Why wait until it is too late? Start funding prevention and healing. Invest in Aboriginal-led solutions to keep families strong. We know what works. We’ve been doing the work. We must be part of the solution. That is how you close the gap.”
NAAFLS and CAAFLU call on the NT Government to engage in genuine consultation with Aboriginal Community Controlled Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, peak bodies, and communities to ensure that domestic and family violence laws reflect the needs and lived experiences of Aboriginal people. Without culturally appropriate solutions, these amendments will do more harm than good.
ENDS
Reference to National Indigenous Times article at Mandatory sentencing won’t keep Territory women safe
For more information:
CAAFLU
Jordan Smyth E: [email protected] M: 0487 124 155
NAAFLS
Megan Ellis E: [email protected] M: 0417 616 647
