10. Homicide deaths, Australia 1993

• Age and sex distribution
• Trends in death rates
• State and Territory differences

• All-ages rates are fairly steady.
• More than the usual number of deaths from interpersonal violence were registered at ages 0-9 in 1993.

Table 10.1 Key indicators

Age and sex distribution

Homicide rates varied less by age than most other injury deaths. A small peak in rates occurred at early adult ages. Male rates were higher than female rates in mid-life. Death was recorded as resulting from stabbing or cutting in 35% of cases, shooting in 19%, unarmed fighting in 8%, child abuse and battering in 5%, and from other or unspecified factors in 30%. The proportions were similar for males and females. Stabbing cases peaked at 15-29 years. Those due to firearms and unarmed fights were spread more evenly over the age range. The current deaths data-set holds no information about the assailant.

Trends in death rates

All-ages rates of homicide have changed little in recent years. National targets for the year 2000 have been set for males and females at ages 20-39 years.[1] Data available when the targets were set suggested that rates in these age groups had been rising. The goal selected was to halt the increase, so the year 2000 target values are the same as the rates in the base-line year, 1992. Another national target is to reduce child deaths due to abuse or battering by 25% from the 1992 rate.[1] The target is based on all registered homicides in the 0-9 year age group. (In 1993, 41% of all homicides at ages 0-9 were recorded as due to battering or maltreatment.) There was a large increase in the number of child homicides registered in 1993. While fluctuation can be expected, this unusually high value, in the year after an unusually low value, may indicate a change in administrative or information processing practices.

State and Territory differences

The rate of deaths due to interpersonal violence was very high in the NT. While the NT rate varies from year to year, the 1993 rate was typical. 16 of 19 people registered in the NT in 1993 as dying from this cause were recorded as Aboriginal. About one-quarter of the NT population is Aboriginal. (See Australian Injury Prevention Bulletin, Issue 7: Injury mortality amongst Aboriginal Australians.[5]) Rates recorded for Victoria and the ACT were significantly lower than the national rate. The ACT rate has been well below the national rate since 1990.

5. Harrison JE, Moller J. Injury mortality amongst Aboriginal Australians. Australian Injury Prevention Bulletin 7, September 1994.