Australia domestic violence: Aboriginal dancers highlight problem Published duration 28 November 2016

image copyright Reuters image caption A group of Rirratjingu traditional dancers travelled to the Australian capital

Aboriginal dancers travelled across Australia to highlight the "horrifying" levels of domestic violence in Outback indigenous communities.

Dancers from the Rirratjingu clan, carrying clap sticks and spears, their faces painted white, performed outside parliament in Canberra.

The group urged action against a problem that disproportionately affects indigenous women.

Aborigine women are 34 times more likely to be victims than other women.

"We are seeing horrifying rates of family violence in indigenous communities and it is incumbent on all people - community leaders, political leaders and businesses - to act to drive it down," Rirratjingu elder Bakamumu Marika said.

The group, which travelled from Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, were met by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

He linked arms with lawmakers of various parties, including opposition leader Bill Shorten, as a sign of solidarity.

image copyright EPA image caption The group performed outside parliament to highlight the problem of domestic violence in indigenous communities

image copyright Michael Masters and David Foote; AUSPIC/DPS image caption Indigenous women are 34 times more likely to be victims of domestic violence than other Australian women

image copyright Michael Masters and David Foote; AUSPIC/DPS image caption They are also more likely to be hospitalised

image copyright EPA image caption But this community has already been working to reduce domestic violence

Speaking afterwards, Mr Turnbull highlighted stark figures which show the scale of the problem, including that indigenous women were admitted to hospital for domestic assaults 30 times more often than other Australian women.

However, the community around Yirrkala had reduced family violence by 29% in a single year through programmes aimed at fostering respect for women, Mr Turnbull added.

"Your dance is more powerful than the words we can speak here," Mr Turnbull said. "You're using the strength of your culture to seek to stop this violence.

"You're using the power of you dance, your tradition, your culture, to communicate our need, our duty to respect women, and we thank you."

image copyright Michael Masters and David Foote; AUSPIC/DPS image caption Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull later moved a motion acknowledging that violence against women was a national issue

image copyright Michael Masters and David Foote; AUSPIC/DPS image caption Members of the community joined Mr Turnbull (second left) in parliament

He concluded: "We can and we must do better."