25 November 2025
Today marks twelve months since the NT Coroner made 35 recommendations following the landmark inquest into the domestic violence deaths of Miss Yunupiŋu, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja and Kumanjayi Haywood. A year on, the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) sector remains deeply concerned about the NT Government’s lack of recognition regarding the importance of this inquest and the uncertainty about if and how the Coroner’s recommendations will be implemented.
Miss Yunupiŋu, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja and Kumanjayi Haywood’s families and communities offered extraordinary strength, courage and knowledge to the inquest in the hope that no other family would endure such loss. These families and communities continue to carry the grief of the women they have lost, as well as the ongoing harm caused by violence. The contributions of their families and communities to the inquest should be at the heart of all DFSV reform in the NT, guiding the implementation of the Coroner’s recommendations and the broader work to prevent violence.
The coalition notes the public release of the Strategy and Roadmap today. However, the absence of a reference to the Coronial findings and instead a statement that these will be reported on in the DFSVPD’s bi-annual report, erases the contribution and sacrifices made by the victims’ families and the sector.
A number of the Coroner’s recommendations remain unaddressed, and significant gaps in implementation remain, including the absence of a current Territory-wide DFSV workforce strategy and sufficient long-term and indexed funding for specialist services. The consequences are an underfunded and overwhelmed DFSV sector, increased pressure on families seeking help, greater demand on overstretched frontline programs, and preventable harm occurring in NT communities.
The sector reaffirms its readiness to work alongside government. Prevention, early intervention response and recovery must be prioritised over punitive measures if the Territory is to reduce DFSV-related harm.
“One year on, our thoughts are with the families and communities who shared their stories so that others may be safer. Their hope was for change—real, measurable change.
The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) sector remains deeply concerned about the NT Government’s lack of recognition of the importance of this inquest and the uncertainty about if and how the Coroner’s recommendations will be implemented.
The Strategy released today creates an opportunity. Now it must be matched by action, transparency and accountability. The specialist DFSV sector is ready to do this work. Real safety will come with systems change.”
Sally Sievers, NTCOSS CEO
“Twelve months on, we were all hopeful we could stand here and celebrate a significant decrease in women experiencing violence at the hands of men in the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, we are not there. We remain committed to work together in this space, and we stand by the Coroner’s recommendations”
Ana Aitcheson, CEO, Dawn House
Contact: Morgan Rickard 0491 811 233 media-sectorsupport@ntcoss.org.au