Minister grilled over Indigenous women's deaths

Family Violence Minister Vicki Ward appeared at the Yoorrook Justice Commission on Thursday where she was questioned about the state government's efforts to halt the crisis.

"Sorry to intervene, but I just keep hearing words about how 'we're doing this and how we're doing that'," Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter said.

"It's actually not sufficient for anybody, any woman, to have a system that wasn't made for our people. Women, black or white, are still dying and we want to sit here and talk about a sophisticated system.

"It's not very sophisticated if, at the hands of violence, women and children are still dying."

Ms Ward attempted to detail her stance before being interrupted by Ms Hunter.

Ms Ward then said: "I'm sorry that that's how you feel".

"I accept your reality is what I'm saying, and we are working to change that, working to amplify those voices," she said.

Ms Hunter replied that the action was not quick enough.

"We do know the answers, just getting in sometimes, just getting in the Aboriginal voice, or getting an Aboriginal work. It's obviously not working," Ms Hunter said.

She went on to rebuff the minister's explanation about how the state was working to stop violence against women.

"I don't feel, with all due respect, that you're answering the questions that we're asking. I feel like we're getting a lot of 'the system this' and 'the system that', and 'it's better now'," Ms Hunter said.

"It might be a better system now, but people are still dying, particularly Aboriginal women."

The vast majority of Aboriginal women in Victoria have non-Indigenous partners, including 85 per cent of women in Melbourne, the hearing was previously told.

Aboriginal women were 45 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to experience family violence, likely at the hands of white men.

Yoorrook is Australia's first truth-telling inquiry and forms part of Victoria's treaty process.

Its final report is due to be delivered in 2025.

Australian Associated Press