The rate of domestic violence is higher in the region compared to anywhere else in Queensland, according to the 2014 Not Now, Not Ever report. 

Yet in recent weeks there has been a marked increase compared to the monthly average, said Mount Isa Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Senior Sergeant Renee Hanrahan. 

Between March and July this year the average monthly number of applications against domestic violence in Mount Isa was 43. Yet halfway through August, to the day of Troy Cassar Daley’s free awareness concert last Thursday, the number was already at 37. 

“A contributing factor is the number of persons visiting our division, a large proportion of whom are directly affected by domestic and family violence,” Snr Sgt Hanrahan said. 

According to the Not Now, Not Ever Report, the rate of regional Mount Isa’s domestic violence applications was higher than any other area in Queensland.

The rate for the region was 1687. The next highest was Far North Queensland with a rate of 946. These figures were based on statistics from 2012-13. 

The taskforce behind the paper determined the issue as a gendered one, with the majority of women more likely to be victims of domestic violence. Indigenous women were 35 times more likely to be hospitalised in an assault than women in general. 

North Queensland Domestic Violence Service senior worker Matt Moss said these rates continue to be much the same since the report was published. Yet there had been recent changes in the legal system and community attitudes and more funding for organisations to support victims and to educate offenders. 

“There has been a lot of clarification around the courts and police now consider domestic violence, which is good in itself. It makes it easier for the aggrieved to come forward and say ‘this is happening’,” Mr Moss said.

“People are more confident they are going to get a reasonably good deal going through the courts.” 

Strangulation laws that became applicable in May targeted the offender who might interfere with the breathing of their victim. Mr Moss said that strangulation in a relationship was a ‘red flag’ and a warning sign the violence could lead to fatality. 

“Thankfully we haven’t had a death in Mount Isa attributed to domestic violence that I’m aware of in two years at least,” he said. 

“There have been severe incidents of DV but I am not aware of a fatality.” 

“That’s not to say those things don’t happen. Even though we don’t necessarily have them here there’s still far too many women and children dying.” 

Mr Moss said that men predominantly were the abusers, and their assaults were generally more vicious. A lot more women were sentenced with weapon use. 

“A woman will usually put up with it so long before she snaps and there is some retaliation,” Mr Moss said. 

“People do get to the point where they have had enough...women will use a weapon because they feel they aren’t as strong as the man and can’t take that person one on one.” 

Mr Moss said that the rates were higher in Indigenous women because “they predominantly don’t have the education stances of what is domestic violence and what isn’t acceptable.” 

“They grow up seeing it so often and it becomes normalised and they accept the violence as a part of life, while most people think ‘they can’t do that’,” he said. 

Mr Moss said police did not treat domestic violence differently according to race. He said that domestic violence appeared more obvious with some Indigenous families who live in the streets or are supported by accommodation services. It was harder to detect behind closed doors. 

He said there was still much victim blaming by the families. “It’s a lot more difficult for the woman to get away from the situation they know...and try and find somewhere they know where they are going to be safe. 

“There’s a lot of shame and guilt breaking up the family. They still feel they have failed in some way.”