Domestic Violence Trends Diverge in the United States and Australia

A U.S. Department of Justice study finds a 12% rise in domestic‑violence incidents during the summer months, attributing the increase to longer time spent together, financial pressure, childcare needs, higher alcohol consumption and holiday spending. Tiffany Tate, CEO of The Family Place in Dallas, said the surge is “very troubling” and emphasized that violence is a choice made by the perpetrator.

In contrast, research by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows a decline in self‑reported domestic‑violence in Australia. The proportion of adults reporting physical assault or threat by an intimate partner fell from 0.91% in 2016‑19 to 0.65% in 2022‑25, and women’s victimisation rates dropped from 4.1% to 3.0% over the same period. However, the number of women and children killed in domestic incidents remained stable, with 26 deaths recorded in 2024‑25. Officials described the downward trend as “encouraging” while noting that serious violence has not decreased.