Despite its 'landmark' status, a recent report into domestic violence has excluded the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Released on Thursday, the report was authored by writer and leading feminist Anne Summers.
That night, Ms Summers was a panellist on ABC’s Q&A, sitting two seats down from staunch Gunai/Kurnai woman Veronica Gorrie.
The Q&A panel on Thursday evening. Source: ABC Twitter
'Upsetting'
Ms Gorrie, award-winning winner author, former police officer and survivor of domestic and sexual violence, called out the report.
“There's no data in relation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women,” Ms Gorrie said.
Ms Gorrie said that the exclusion of experiences of Indigenous people from the report was “upsetting”.
“For Aboriginal people, I wish poverty was the only thing we had to worry about when dealing with domestic violence, it’s not,” she said.
“The violence that we suffer at the hands of police when they turn up at a domestic violence incident is a whole other level. Aboriginal women are deemed to be the perpetrators, are locked up and our children are taken from us.
“That’s not in your report — which I find upsetting.”
Responding to Ms Gorrie, Ms Summers said the research was collated from the Personal Safety Survey, a federal government survey administered every four years, which includes questions on domestic violence.
“It does not include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at all,” she said.
“The reason they give is that it is a sampling problem, they can’t get to remote communities, it is a household survey. That’s their argument. I’m not defending it, I’m just saying that’s what that is.”
An argument Ms Gorrie believed insufficient.
“I don’t believe that, it’s because we don’t matter,” she said.
“Our lives don’t matter, they [the federal government] don’t give a shit about Aboriginal people, they don’t give a shit about Aboriginal victims."
Anne Summers speaking on Q&A Panel. Source: ABC Twitter
The issue of the Cashless Debit Card
During the show, the panel was asked about economic security for those escaping violence.
Ms Gorrie said poverty is an “inherent” part of being an Aboriginal person due to colonisation.
“You’re brought into this world Black and broke, it’s due to colonisation. Prior to colonisation, my people had an abundance on our traditional lands, I blame everything on colonisation,” she said.
She then questioned Ms Summers decision to exclude the topic of cashless welfare cards in her report.
Whilst Ms Summers acknowledged it as a “legit criticism” she said she had to “make choices” within the report.
“I chose to include payments that most people are eligible for, or apply for when they leave a relationship,” she said.
When Ms Gorrie later questioned whether Ms Summers would recommend Aboriginal single mothers be taken off the indue card. She responded saying it was not a recommendation in her report.
Panellist, domestic violence survivor and Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly, responded that the Labor government were getting “rid of the indue card”.
Ms Gorrie suggested they continue such work.
“The Labor Government should defund the police,” she said.
“Give that money to the community organisations. Defund prisons that are incarcerating my people.
“Abolish prisons and defund the police.”
The indue card. Source: Supplied
When the police are called
Katrina Harrison, a palawa woman from Victoria, asked the panel about what it would take to support women, and in particular, Aboriginal women escaping violence.
Whilst some took the opportunity to discuss the family court system, Ms Gorrie said Aboriginal victims don’t have the “luxury” of thinking that far in advance. Yet, are preoccupied with the issue of being misidentified as the primary aggressor.
“Firstly, we got to stop police misidentifying us as perpetrators,” she said.
“As Aboriginal victims, we don’t have the luxury of thinking of the process of family courts, we’re thinking about criminal matters as well as being incarcerated, wrongly incarcerated.
“When you’re in a relationship and you’re being forced to be submissive and compliant. . . when police do attend. . . we take that opportunity to speak up.
“We’re seen to be hysterical; we’re seen to be suffering from a mental illness and we’re treated like shit. Our children are taken from us."
Ms Gorrie said most first calls from Aboriginal victims are to family.
“In relation to Aboriginal people, we don’t want police coming to us, we don’t even call the police,” she said.
“We know the likelihood of us getting arrested is really high. Usually the first people we ring, when we’re in crisis are our family anyway. I think that’s cultural.”
She spotlighted community organisations such as Djirra and Dardi Munwurro in Victoria.
“More funding should be provided to these Aboriginal organisations.”
Ms Gorrie took the opportunity to talk from her own experience.
"I didn't make a good victim," she said.
“We’re not good victims. We’re not believed, we’re not the right, or white, victims. Because ‘white is right’ right?”
“All too often you don’t hear about the incidents that are happening about Aboriginal people because we don’t make the news.”
Ms Gorrie speaking on ABC's program Q&A. Source: ABC Twitter
Program backlash
Ms Gorrie garnered support quickly online, with many noting that she was the only Aboriginal person to sit on the panel despite the content discussed.
"The work that @RonnieGorrie is doing tonight is something else. The response from other women on the panel is so telling," Dr Chelsea Watego tweeted.
"The erasure and exclusion is violent.
"Also I hate watching the one Aboriginal person having to hold their own at these tables. We know what that feels like only too well. But thank you @RonnieGorrie."
Ms Gorrie also found support from Dr Tracy Westerman AM and Sisters Inside CEO Debbie Kilroy.
Dr Chelsea Watego Tweet. Source: Twitter
"And we continue this country's failure to want to highlight anything about the plight of Indigenous people as victims. The exclusion of Aboriginal women in this national report on domestic violence is a disgrace - thank you @RonnieGorrie for taking this on full tilt," said Dr Westerman.
"Why aren't other panellists responding to the serious issues that @RonnieGorrie is raising about violence against Aboriginal people and violence of the colonial state?" Ms Kilroy tweeted.
"I'm disgusted watching whyte women act the way they always act by using their behaviour, their body language to erase Blak women who speak their minds. Your violence is visible. We see you.
"Deepest respect @RonnieGorrie."
Debbie Kilroy tweet. Source: Twitter
If this story has raised issues for you, or if you are currently experience domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
