Reports that family violence across the north- west of Melbourne have nearly doubled are still underestimating the problem, Brimbank council believes.
In its submission to the Royal Commission on Family Violence, the council said the statistics did not reflect the realities faced by many women.
“It’s important to note that violence against women is one of the most under-reported crimes; thus data on family violence reports is considered an underestimate of actual incidents,” the council submitted.
“There are many reasons why victims of family violence may not report the violence to police or seek assistance from support services.”
Quoting Crime Statistics Agency data, state MP for the Western Metropolitan Region Cesar Melhem said domestic violence reports had nearly doubled in only four years.
Mr Melhem said with 7053 reports in 2010, compared to 12,188 in 2014, agencies such as Women’s Health West were “stretched beyond capacity”.
“It’s a stark reminder of the fundamental inequity that exists between men and women, in spite of the fashionable, complacent view that feminism is over and gender equality is done and dusted,” he said.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said the rate of family violence in Brimbank was “significant”.
“Family violence is a national emergency, and impacts on all parts of the community,” Ms Suleyman said.
Kororoit MP Marlene Korouz said “pockets of extreme disadvantage” were underpinning the increases in family violence.
She said Brimbank ranked third in Victoria for social disadvantage. Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins said the legal system in the west was “overwhelmed”.
In“[In 2011] the Sunshine Magistrates Court had a specialist family violence unit and was hearing up to 50 family violence cases a day,” Ms Hutchins said.
