Cost of violence

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The Cost of Violence Against Women and Their Children 2009

• Violence against women and their children will cost the Australian economy an estimated $13.6 billion in 2009.
• An estimated three-quarters of a million Australian women will experience and report violence(1) in the period of 2021-22, costing the Australian economy an estimated $15.6 billion(2).
• This is more than last year's $10.4 billion plan by the Australian Government to stimulate the economy in the face of the global financial crisis; more than the Government's $5.9 billion Education Revolution; and more than three-quarters of the initial budget allocation in 2008-09 of $20 billion to its Building Australia Fund.
• This estimate captures reported violence only - unreported violence is not included.
  (1) Violence against women and their children includes domestic and non-domestic violence.
  (2) Includes domestic violence and non-domestic sexual assault.

Projected costs

• The total cost of violence against women and their children in 2021-22 is estimated to be $15.6 billion.
• The largest contributor is 'pain, suffering and premature mortality', at $7.5 billion.
• The remaining costs total $8.1 billion.
• The largest part is 'consumption-related' costs at $3.5 billion.
• The next largest categories are 'production' and 'administrative and other', at $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion respectively.
• The largest cost burden ($8.1 billion) is estimated to be borne by victims/survivors of violence.
• The next largest burdens are on the federal and state/territory governments ($2.9 billion) and the general community ($1.9 billion).

Without appropriate action to 2021-22:

• violence against immigrant and refugee women is estimated to cost the economy just over $4 billion.
• violence against women with disabilities is estimated to cost the economy $3.9 billion.
• violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is estimated to cost the economy $2.2 billion.
• And in relation to children who witness violence the estimated cost to the economy is $1.6 billion.

Download: The Cost of Violence Against Women and Their Children 2009 ( 546Kb )

Source: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

Costs of crime 2008

The overall cost of crime in Australia amounts to nearly $36b per year, which is 4.1% of national gross domestic product.

• The total cost of homicide is $950m - about $1.9m per incident.
• Assault costs $1.4b per year, with an average of $1,700 per assault.
• Sexual assault costs $720m overall, with an average cost of $7,500 per incident.
• Burglary costs $2.2b overall and $2,900 per incident.
• Fraud costs at an estimated $8.5b (40%).

Download: Costs of Crime 2008 ( 89Kb )

Source: Australian Institute of Criminology

Sexual assault

Counting the Costs of Crime in Australia 2003

Based on Australian figures from 2001, the estimate for the total cost of sexual assault per year was $230 million. This costing includes medical costs, lost output costs and intangible costs.

Download: Counting the Costs of Crime in Australia ( 300Kb )

Source: Australian Institute of Criminology

Recidivism Sex Offenders Research Paper 2007

According to the 1996 Women's Safety Survey

• Of the women who worked at the time of the most recent incident, 12% took time off work in the 12 months following the incident.
• Overall 40% of women who experienced sexual assault since the age of 15 had made some changes to their daily activities as a result of the most recent sexual assault.
• 17% of women who had experienced sexual assault reported living in fear for their personal safety.

These figures illustrate some of the intangible but lingering costs of sexual assault and other sexual offences.

Download: Recidivism Sex Offenders Research Paper 2007 ( 711Kb )

Source: The Sentencing Advisory Council

Family violence

The Health Costs of Violence: Measuring the Burden of Disease Caused by Intimate Partner Violence 2004

• Intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to preventable death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15-44.
• It is responsible for more of the disease burden than high blood pressure, smoking or obesity.
• Family violence costs Australia about $8 billion per year, a substantial proportion of which is borne by the victims themselves.

Download: The Health Costs of Violence: Measuring the Burden of Disease Caused by Intimate Partner Violence 2004 ( 400Kb )

Source: Vic Health

Related reports

Time for Action Snapshot 2009

The Plan of Action describes the commitment and actions needed to guide all Australians, their governments and communities in reducing violence against women and their children. Implementing the Plan of Action is central to achieving the Government's priorities for women.

Download: Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children, 2009-2021 ( 180Kb )

Source: The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

The Cost of Domestic Violence to the Australian Economy 2004

The Office for the Status of Women (OSW) has commissioned Access Economics to undertake a study of the costs of domestic violence to the Australian economy.

Download: The Cost of Domestic Violence Part 1 (414Kb ), The Cost of Domestic Violence Part 2 (354Kb ), The Cost of Domestic Violence Corrigendum (16Kb )

Source: Access Economics

Calculating Lost Productivity and Related Values

Source: Centre for Disease Control

1996 Women's Safety Survey

Download: 1996 Women's Safety Survey ( 414Kb )

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

This is not an exhaustive list of research in the area of family violence and sexual assault, merely a starting point. As the locations of web pages often change, many of these reports have been made available through this page to assist readers. Please note that these pdfs may not contain the latest version or any recent changes so it is recommended that researchers check the author's website for updates, suplements or amendments. All published details correct as at July 2009.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 1 Dec 2010