Murder rate hits all-time low
AUSTRALIA’S murder rate has hit an all-time record low. The latest report of the National Homicide Monitoring Program reveals there were 238 homicide incidents in Australia in 2013-14 compared with 307 deaths in 1989-90.
That finding brings the national rate down to one victim per 100,000 people – the lowest since the program started in 1989.
The report, by the Australian Institute of Criminology, shows knives were the most common murder weapons, responsible for 86 deaths, while beatings accounted for 37 deaths. Guns killed 32 people, marking a 63 per cent decline since 1989-90.
The Northern Territory has the highest homicide incident rate, with 6.5 incidents per 100,000 persons, while the ACT recorded the lowest rate at 0.3 incidents per 100,000 persons in 2013-14.
“Homicide is an abhorrent crime that is completely unacceptable in our society,” Justice Minister Michael Keenan said.