Family murders hit 10-year high

Posted Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:07am AEDT
Updated Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:00am AEDT

Gary Bell, who killed his children and then himself

Domestic violence ... Gary Bell murdered his three children, then killed himself in a NSW south coast town earlier this year. (Channel 7)

The New South Wales Government is being urged to hold an immediate review into domestic violence homicides, with the number of women and children killed in NSW at its highest level in almost a decade.

The state's Bureau of Crime Statistics says 29 women and children were murdered in domestic incidents between July last year and June this year, six above the average for the past 10 years.

The State Opposition's spokeswoman for women, Pru Goward, says it is obvious police and community services systems are not working.

"These record figures are an absolute indictment of the State Labor Government," she said.

"The State Labor Government has had the opportunity to introduce a domestic violence homicide review for some time.

"It's been called for by the sector, we've called for it. We've asked the Government and they consistently refuse to do it."