Rates of homicide in Australia have increased in the last financial year with 232 homicides recorded in 2022-23. Incidences of intimate partner homicide also increased over the 12-month period.
According to new data from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Statistical Report, 247 victims of homicide were recorded and 260 offenders identified.
Incidents of homicide include murder, manslaughter, and infanticide reported by state and territory police. New South Wales recorded the highest number of homicides with 63 cases followed by Victoria with 50. The Australian Capital Territory recorded the fewest incidences.
Males were more likely to be both the victims and offenders of homicide. Males comprised 69 percent of victims, compared to women who made up 30 percent of victims in 2022-23. However, female victimisation rates have increased since 2021-22. Males also accounted for 87 percent of offenders, while 13 percent of offenders were females.
The data shows that victims of homicide were more likely to be in a domestic relationship with or knew the perpetrator. Only 35 incidents between 2022-23 involved parties who were strangers compared to 133 incidents where both parties knew each other.
There were 38 intimate partner homicides recorded in 2022-23, an increase of 28 percent compared to the previous year.
The results come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared a national crisis for violence against women. Albanese has also called an emergency national cabinet meeting for tomorrow to address violence against women.
So far this year, there have been 26 women allegedly murdered by men, prompting rallies around the country calling for action to prevent gender-based violence.
The most common weapons used were knives or other sharp objects (85 recorded incidents in 2022-23), followed by hands and feet and firearms.
In 2022-23, 90 percent of cases were cleared by police with 199 cleared by charge and seven cases resulted in the offender dying prior to arrest. Since 1989-90, 91 percent of homicide cases have been cleared.
Despite the rise of homicide incidents in the last year, the 2022-23 period was third lowest homicide rate recorded since 1989-90.
Photo: Women’s March on Washington – 1/21/17 by Molly Adams is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons License. This image has not been modified.
