Indigenous people are over-represented in all forms of violent crime in Australia, as both victims and offenders. The impact of homicide and hospitalisations for assault extends beyond the offender and immediate victim. Families and communities are severely affected and the impact may be felt from one generation to another.
Indigenous homicides and assaults are frequently associated with substance misuse, including alcohol consumption. Indigenous homicides tend to involve family members, with disputes within families being one of the main factors.
Comparatively high rates of Indigenous homicide are paralleled by high levels of other forms of violence such as self-harm and assault. Actions in a number of the strategic areas have the potential to make a difference by addressing the circumstances which can lead to dysfunctional families and violent behaviour.
KEY MESSAGES
Homicide makes up a very small proportion of total deaths but can indicate broader levels of family and community violence. There were 37 Indigenous homicide victims in Australia in 2004-05 (table 3A.10.5).
Of 245 homicides in Australia in 2004-05, Indigenous people accounted for 15 per cent of homicide victims and 16 per cent of homicide offenders (table 3A.10.6).
After adjusting for age differences, the homicide rate in the Indigenous population was 5 to 15 times the rate in the non-Indigenous population in Queensland, WA, SA and the NT between 2001 and 2005 (figure 3.10.1).
From 1999-2000 to 2004-05, the rate of Indigenous homicides in remote, outer regional and very remote areas (13 to 17 per 100 000 population) was around three times the rate in major cities and inner regional areas (5 per 100 000). Indigenous homicide rates were higher than non-Indigenous rates in all remoteness areas (figure 3.10.6).
In 2004-05, in the four jurisdictions for which data are available, Indigenous people were hospitalised for assault at 17 times the rate of non-Indigenous people. Indigenous females were 44 times as likely to be hospitalised for assault as non-Indigenous females (figure 3.10.1 and table 3A.10.12).
Report Chapter 3: Headline Indicators
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Attachment 3A
(Excel document)
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