The family of a woman killed in a brutal domestic violence attack has given emotional statements to the coroner investigating her death as a Northern Territory Police officer tells of his frustrations about Indigenous women's deaths in the Territory being ignored by the community. And a warning, this story contains the names and images of Aboriginal women who have died.
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00:00 A good and kind woman, described as really smart and really funny, who made her family
00:08 proud as an outspoken advocate for victim-survivors.
00:12 That is how Kumaan Rebunch's loved ones remembered her at the coronial inquest examining her
00:17 murder.
00:18 Her death is one of four under the coroner's microscope as the stories of these Aboriginal
00:23 women come to light, many for the first time.
00:26 R&D man and NT Police Senior Constable Bradley Wallace told the coroner he was sickened by
00:32 the lack of attention given to murdered women in the Northern Territory.
00:36 "I see domestic-related homicides on the eastern seaboard that are horrific and mainstream
00:41 media gives them airtime.
00:42 They recognise they've got a significant problem.
00:45 I think there's acceptance that we're in the situation we are, so there isn't that radical
00:50 response to another woman being killed."
00:54 He told the coroner there was little to no shame in being a domestic violence offender
00:58 anymore and that young people were being exposed to violence from such an early age it's become
01:04 normalised.
01:05 Domestic violence needs to be addressed from the ground up.
01:08 It's health, education, housing.
01:10 It's a bigger issue than a policing issue.
01:13 It's a social issue.
01:15 Loved ones of Kumaan Rebunch are told the coroner they wanted to see local solutions
01:19 to domestic and family violence in their communities.
01:22 They told the coroner Aboriginal women may not have formal qualifications but that they're
01:27 qualified in their own right.
01:30 Cecily Araby, Ms Rebunch's niece, explained cultural training, particularly for police,
01:35 was critical, as well as on country support, programs and accommodation for men returning
01:41 from prison.
01:42 She also wanted to see more offices in remote communities and 24-hour access in Alice Springs.
01:49 The inquest continues.
01:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]