Almost half of all homicides in NSW last year were domestic violence-related, according to new figures today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
It’s a stark and tragic reminder of the toll of domestic violence in the state, with 45.9 per cent of the 85 murder victims recorded by NSW police being DV-related.
It’s also a reminder of the urgent investment required to save lives, and the volume of work to do to achieve the federal government’s mission of ending domestic and family violence within a generation.
Twenty-six women were murdered in NSW in 2024, along with 13 young people and children. The majority fall into the category of being domestic violence related; others (like the five women killed during the Bondi Junction stabbing attack) had no personal connection to their killer.
Meanwhile, while many categories of major crimes have been trending downwards over the past ten years, domestic and family violence has taken a different path, with domestic violence assaults up 3.1 per cent a year on average (well ahead of the 1.3 per cent per year average in non-domestic assaults). Sexual assault is also up: 8.8 per cent per year on average.
There have been several “localised crime increases”, including a 6.2 per cent increase in domestic violence assault in Greater Sydney.
Sadly, it seems that the “national crisis” of male violence against women that was declared in the first half of 2024, as well as the federal government’s commitment to end family and domestic violence “in one generation” has done little in NSW to reduce the figures, according to these latest stats.
Other major crime areas, including recorded robbery, break-and-enter, general stealing, and malicious property damage, are described as being “all much lower” than a decade ago.
If we can see a significant drop in most crime categories, why not domestic and family violence?
The number of murders generally is also the highest in a calendar year since 2014, when police recorded 93 murder victims. The Bureau notes the increase reflects the fact that eight “criminal events” involved two or more murder victims.
Domestic Violence NSW CEO Delia Donovan says the fact half of the murders recorded by police in NSW are domestic-violence-related is sadly not surprising for those working in the domestic, family and sexual violence sector.
“Each life lost represents a failure of our systems to protect and support those at risk,” she told Women’s Agenda in response to today’s stats.
“We have said it before, and we will keep saying it until the government takes action. We desperately need to see a 50 per cent baseline funding increase for all specialist domestic and family violence services in NSW.
“Ending violence costs money, but not investing is costing lives.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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