14 July 2026
The murders of Lavanya Chappa, Jana Armstrong, Layla Jeffery and a 17-year-old Yolŋu girl from Galiwin’ku in the space of four days have once again placed Australia’s response to domestic and family violence under intense scrutiny, with No to Violence warning the nation continues to intervene too late.
No to Violence, Australia’s national peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence, said each death represents an immeasurable loss for families, children and communities, while reinforcing the urgent need for governments to invest in earlier intervention, behaviour change and accountability responses for men using violence.
The deaths have renewed national attention on Australia’s approach to preventing domestic and family violence, with experts calling for greater investment in prevention and a stronger focus on understanding and disrupting the pathways that lead to men’s perpetration of this type of violence.
The renewed calls come despite domestic and family violence being declared a national crisis by the Prime Minister in 2024. More than two years later, investment from the Australian Government and several states has fallen short of what is needed to keep pace with the scale of the crisis. Queensland budget papers show almost $40 million has been cut from domestic and family violence prevention funding compared with last year, while the recent Federal Budget included little new investment in preventing men’s use of violence.
With consultations underway on the next phase of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, No to Violence Chief Executive Officer Phillip Ripper said the Albanese Government has an opportunity to turn its commitment into meaningful investment.
“Australia cannot continue to describe family violence as a national crisis while failing to invest at the scale that crisis demands. As the Government develops the next phase of the National Plan, it has an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in the services that identify risk earlier, engage people using violence, hold them accountable and create genuine pathways to change,” Mr Ripper said.
Mr Ripper said the events of the past week were a devastating reminder of why that investment and commitment matters.
“Behind every headline is a family, children, friends and a community whose lives have been changed forever.
“Family violence homicides rarely occur without a history of coercive control, abuse or escalating risk. Police and emergency services play a critical role, but they should not be where our intervention begins. Every opportunity to engage someone using domestic and family violence earlier is an opportunity to reduce risk and prevent further harm.”
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Media Contact: Jo Nilsson
Media & Advocacy Advisor, No to Violence
communications@ntv.org.au | 0455666492
About No to Violence
No to Violence is the Australian peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence. We support specialist men’s family violence services and operate the national Men’s Referral Service, a 24/7 telephone and online counselling and referral service to link men to the support they need to get on a pathway of change and end their use of family violence. We undertake research, training and advocacy and work with governments, employers and business to stop family violence at the source.
Please list the Men’s Referral Service with all Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence stories: The Men’s Referral Service provides counselling and referrals for men who are concerned about their behaviour: 1300 766 491
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