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ABC News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Northern Territory domestic violence prevention minister condemned by legal associations for criticism of coroner
Leading legal representatives have condemned the Northern Territory's minister for domestic violence prevention for what they have labelled a "bizarre and unwarranted attack" on the NT coroner in parliament. In handing down the NT government's response to a landmark coronial inquest into the domestic violence deaths of four Indigenous women, Robyn Cahill on Wednesday said Coroner Elisabeth Armitage's report "failed dismally to hit the mark" and called her recommendations "uninspiring". She also criticised Judge Armitage's "protracted" approach to the inquest, saying it led to "lengthy reports delivered in a manner seeming to lack the humility one might expect from an officer of the court". Ms Cahill said only a "small proportion" of the coroner's recommendations would result in a "new and innovative approach", claiming 24 of 35 recommendations were already in place. The NT has the highest rates of family and domestic violence in Australia, with a rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average. Domestic violence prevention advocates have already criticised the minister's comments, calling them hurtful, disappointing and distressing. In a statement, the NT Bar Association said Ms Cahill's comments amounted to a "bizarre and unwarranted attack" on the coroner and were "undermining of the independence of the role". "Such attacks by government ministers necessarily impact a coroner's ability to do their job without fear or favour and are destructive of public confidence," the association said. "Inquest findings and recommendations are made on the basis of the evidence given, much of which would have come from the relevant government departments." The Bar Association said ministers and governments were "always free to disagree" with a coroner's findings and could appeal to the Supreme Court, which was not done for this inquest. "However, for a Minister of the Crown to undermine the judiciary and the coroner in the way that occurred in parliament this week, violates the rule of law and ultimately does nothing to protect Territorians from domestic and family violence," the statement said. The Criminal Lawyers Association for the NT (CLANT) said it was "appalled" by Ms Cahill's comments in parliament "attacking the integrity and conduct" of the coroner. "This was not fair criticism. It was a personal, politically charged attack on a judicial officer who is unable to defend herself publicly," CLANT said in a statement. "These remarks represent a profound violation of the principles of judicial independence and the separation of powers which are fundamental to our democracy and enshrined in the Australian Constitution. "Judicial officers must be free to perform their duties without fear of reprisal or intimidation from the executive branch of government." On Friday, Ms Cahill defended her parliamentary comments and said she did "not accept" that they undermined the judiciary process. "The whole point of a coronial report, they are given to government for comment," she said. "So, I could say, 'If you don't want us to comment on it, don't give it to us and don't ask for a comment.'" Ms Cahill said she was disappointed with the coroner's recommendations, rather than the content of the report. "The recommendations don't actually reflect the evidence that's in that report." In an interview on ABC News Channel, Australia's Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said Judge Armitage's investigation had involved "great integrity and a very systematic approach". "What I observed was the deep respect with which she did engage with those communities and families and the respect with which she was held by them," Ms Cronin said. Speaking about the inquest's length, which was more than two years, Ms Cronin said it was an "unusual and complex piece of work" that examined the deaths of four Aboriginal women. "[It's] an examination of where there have been failures in deaths and what we can learn from them," she said. "So the timeliness of it is not quite as important as it is to really learn deeply from what's happened."
ABC News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Domestic violence workers criticise NT government's response to inquest into deaths of Aboriginal women
Domestic violence prevention advocates have described the NT government's criticism of a landmark coronial report into the deaths of four Indigenous women as hurtful, disappointing and distressing. Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names and images of Indigenous people who have died, used with the permission of their families. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage's final report into the NT's domestic violence epidemic was delivered in November last year. Specifically, the coroner investigated the deaths of Kumarn Rubuntja, Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk and Miss Yunupiŋu, with the inquiry taking more than a year. Judge Armitage made 35 recommendations, including calls for increased funding for frontline emergency service responses, women's shelters and men's behavioural change programs. When tabling the government's response on Tuesday, Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill said the coroner's recommendations were overall "uninspiring", and said the report "failed dismally to hit the mark". She said the government would support 21 recommendations in full, 11 in principle, and reject three. She also claimed 24 of the 35 recommendations related to programs or processes already in place. Domestic violence researcher Chay Brown, who was friends with Ms Rubuntja before she was murdered in front of Alice Springs Hospital, said she was saddened by Ms Cahill's comments. "I feel very sad about it and I think that's because Kumarn Rubuntja was a friend and a colleague of mine," she said. "She's dearly loved and incredibly missed and so to hear Minister Cahill describe the coronial inquest into her death as uninspiring, as failing to deliver, as being dismal — that was incredibly hurtful." Dr Brown also said Ms Cahill's response had caused harm to the families of the four women. "[They] gave so generously to that whole [coronial] process," she said. "That's what has been forgotten, is that at the heart of the inquest were four women who were loved. "Those four families … who travelled to Darwin, who spoke up, whose voices have been silenced because of the government response. Dr Brown said she and the four families supported the coroner and appreciated the inquest process. "I refuse to allow the process to be undermined by a few ill-thought-through words and hurtful comments in parliament that came about political point-scoring and shifting blame and taking cheap shots," she said. "I refuse to let the process be undermined by that." Ana Aitcheson, the chief executive of Darwin women's shelter Dawn House, said the government's response "came as quite a surprise" given the sector was initially hopeful the inquest would lead to genuine reform. "We saw it as an opportunity for us to all truly work together and really create change in this space," she said. In a joint statement, a group of frontline domestic, family and sexual violence services said none of them had been given notice the government planned to table its response to the coronial inquest on Monday. NT Council of Social Services (NTCOSS) chief executive Sally Sievers said this meant family members of the deceased were unable to attend. "There was no notice so those families couldn't be brought together," she said. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 Ms Sievers also said the sector was disappointed by an overall lack of consultation regarding the government's response to the coroner's report. "We've got 35-odd members who work in this sector and they just haven't been part of this process," she said. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby insisted the government had been working with the sector. "I do refute the allegation that we haven't been consulting with that sector," she said. "Not only has Minister Cahill been out speaking to many of them over the last 11 months … I, too, meet with them."
ABC News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
NT government responds to landmark domestic violence inquest into killings of four Indigenous women
The Northern Territory government says more than two-thirds of recommendations from a landmark domestic violence inquest "are already in place" in the territory, with a minister saying the report has failed "dismally to hit the mark". WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names of Indigenous people who have died, used with the permission of their families. The Country Liberal Party handed down its response to NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage's report in NT parliament on Tuesday, more than eight months after it was handed down. Judge Armitage made 35 recommendations, after spending more than a year investigating the domestic violence killings of four Aboriginal women — Kumarn Rubuntja, Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk and Miss Yunupiŋu. They were among more than 80 Indigenous women killed in domestic violence attacks in the NT since the year 2000. The coroner's recommendations included calls for increased funding for frontline emergency service responses, women's shelters and men's behavioural change programs. In NT parliament on Tuesday, Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Robyn Cahill said the government would support 21 of the recommendations in full and accept 11 in principle. The government did not support three of the recommendations: In handing down the government's response, Ms Cahill said "overall" the recommendations from the coroner were "uninspiring" and the report "failed so dismally to hit the mark". She said only a "small proportion" of the recommendations made would lead to the "implementation of a new and innovative approach". She also criticised Judge Armitage's approach to the inquest, calling it "protracted" and resulting in "lengthy reports delivered in a manner seeming to lack the humility one might expect from an officer of the court". "More focused on the reveal rather than the result," she said of Judge Armitage. When handing down her recommendations, Judge Armitage said she did not believe the 35 recommendations were "radical", saying the DFSV sector had been calling for them for many years. In a statement, Ms Cahill said "extensive consultation with government, non-government agencies, advocacy groups and experts found that 24 of the 35 recommendations related to programs or processes already in place". "Some of these measures have been in place for years without delivering the results we need," she said. Ms Cahill said the government was developing a DFSV roadmap to address domestic violence in the territory, which would set "strategic priorities" for the government's $36 million a year funding for the sector. In response to Ms Cahill's comments, opposition MLA Chansey Paech said it was "absolutely appalling" for the minister to "take aim at the Northern Territory coroner". "It was a long inquest, absolutely," he said. "It was four families, four unique circumstances that absolutely deserved the right to be comprehensively reviewed." Mr Paech said all 35 recommendations could "absolutely be accepted", despite government concerns over funding limitations. "The coroner designed all of these in a way that they could absolutely be supported," he said. In a joint statement, a coalition of NT DSFV services said the government's response was "underwhelming in the face of the Northern Territory's biggest criminal issue". "This is about more than programs. It's about a system that is currently failing women and children, and the urgent need to redesign it alongside the people who know what works," the statement said. "The government's ongoing lack of genuine consultation with the specialist DFSV sector is creating missed opportunities, poor coordination and unsafe outcomes." The NT has the highest rates of family and domestic violence in Australia, with a rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average. Recommendation 3: Amend the DFSV workforce plan to better engage Aboriginal workers, communities and universities. Recommendation 5: Create and implement an evidence-based strategy to reduce alcohol availability. Recommendation 6: Increase investment in specialist alcohol and other drugs rehabilitation services. Recommendation 7: Implement the police and children and families department co-responder model — which has been trialled in Alice Springs — on a permanent basis NT-wide. Recommendation 8: NT police to review protocols and improve officer training on information sharing. Recommendation 9: Consider establishing a multi-agency protection service to formalise partnership between police and government departments. Recommendation 10: NT police to embed interpreters and/or Aboriginal liaison officers in the emergency call centre. Recommendation 11: Provide PARt training to all current police officers, auxiliaries and new recruits, including emergency call centre workers. Recommendation 12: NT police to expand the DFSV command in Alice Springs and Darwin. Recommendation 13: Expand NT police's family harm coordination daily auditing program. Recommendation 14: Children and families department to audit and continue its commitment to the Safe and Together framework. Recommendation 15: Fund and implement "timely and intensive" early interventions for young people engaged in violence. Recommendation 16: Extra funding for community-based approaches to child welfare. Recommendation 17: Replicate the specialist DFSV court in Alice Springs in other regions. Recommendation 23: Increase funding for men's prison-based behaviour programs and counselling. Recommendation 24: Improve access to men's prison programs. Recommendation 25: Develop and implement a prison program for men who are 'deniers' of their violence. Recommendation 26: Establish reintegration programs for men leaving prison and returning to community. Recommendation 29: Boost funding for community-based behavioural change and prevention programs. Recommendation 33: Full implementation of the DFSV Action Plan 2, which will require $180 million funding over five years. Recommendation 34: Increase baseline funding for frontline DFSV crisis services by about 10 per cent. Recommendation 1: Establish a permanent, whole-of-government unit to lead DFSV policy and practice. Recommendation 4: Boost funding for Aboriginal interpreter services. Recommendation 18: Fund culturally-appropriate, trauma-informed, mediation/peacekeeping for family and community violence. Recommendation 19: Regulate and fund mediation and peacemaker groups as recognised alternative dispute resolution providers. Recommendation 20: Develop and fund alternatives to custody for DFSV perpetrators. Recommendation 21: Make the NT victims register an opt-out system, and consider how victims can be notified of the release of inmates. Recommendation 22: Embed the charter of victims' rights in NT law. Recommendation 27: NT Health to improve its DFSV screening and assessment of patients. Recommendation 28: Better support for Aboriginal liaison officers in hospitals and clinics. Recommendation 30: Invest in culturally-appropriate prevention and education programs in schools and on social media. Recommendation 31: Fund DFSV awareness training for clubs and pubs. Recommendation 2: Establish an NT peak body to represent the sector on a national level. Recommendation 32: Mandatory 12-month trial of banned drinker register scanners in licensed venues. Recommendation 35: Ensure funding agreements for frontline DFSV services include indexation increases.
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
AirAsia Malaysia arrives in Northern Territory with KL-Darwin service
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Malaysia's new Kuala Lumpur–Darwin service took off in a robust debut on Friday, achieving close to 90% passenger load and underscoring the airline's dedication to driving tourism growth in Australia's Northern Territory and reaffirming Malaysia's appeal as a top destination in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026. The launch of this new route, along with the latest service between Bali and Adelaide (commemorated on June 26, and operated by AirAsia Indonesia), marks a significant milestone for AirAsia and its strong ties with Australia. These new services underscore the group's ongoing commitment to expanding its network, enhancing regional connectivity, and offering more travel options for leisure, tourism, and trade. Australian Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill OAM said the Territory's aviation sector continues to go from strength to strength with this new route providing a boost to tourism, growing business and trade and connecting Territorians with a new international flight option. 'We are thrilled to partner with AirAsia and the Airport Development Group to expand AirAsia Group's network into the Northern Territory and provide greater choice, connectivity and competition for travellers. 'More flights will make it easier for people to visit and do business in the Territory. Having just returned from Kuala Lumpur, I can attest to the beauty of the destination. I encourage Territorians who are heading to Malaysia to take advantage of this fantastic service with direct and affordable flights into Kuala Lumpur four days a week,' said Cahill, who joined AirAsia on its maiden flight to Darwin. AirAsia Malaysia CEO Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra said Darwin now becomes part of AirAsia Malaysia's expanding network in Australia, further boosting the airline's strong and growing presence in the region. 'Australia remains one of the group's key growth markets, and we are thrilled to touch down today (Friday) for the first time in the Northern Territory. 'We are confident this new service will be well received, not only offering the only direct and affordable connectivity between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur, but also as a gateway to our vast network of over 130 destinations across Asia and beyond at great value,' he said. AirAsia Malaysia will operate four weekly flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Darwin route, offering more than 1,488 seats weekly.
Daily Express
28-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
New Kuala Lumpur - Darwin route to boost tourism
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: DARWIN: AirAsia Malaysia officially launched its inaugural Kuala Lumpur–Darwin route with a strong load factor of nearly 90 per cent, reinforcing the airline's commitment to boosting tourism in the Northern Territory. AirAsia Malaysia officially commenced operations on June 27, marked by the landing of flight AK612 at Darwin International Airport. Air Asia flight AK612 will operate four times a week. The launch of this new route marks a significant milestone for AirAsia and its strong ties with Australia. Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill OAM joined AirAsia on its maiden flight to Darwin said, the Territory's aviation sector continues to go from strength to strength with this new route providing a boost to tourism, growing business and trade and connecting Territorians with a new international flight option (pic). 'We look forward to welcoming more Australian travellers to experience our unique cultural diversity and commitment to sustainable tourism. In 2024, Malaysia recorded 447,785 visitor arrivals from Australia, an 11.7 per cent increase from 2023 and 6.3 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels,' said Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
