More Than 1000 Australians Physically Assaulted Every Day According to New ABS Data
Nearly 400,000 Australians experienced physical assault in 2024-2025 as national victimisation data reveals scale of violence
The ABS National Crime Victimisation Survey paints a confronting picture of violence in Australia, with the data revealing that physical assault remains one of the most common crimes experienced by Australians. The figures encompass a wide range of incidents from street violence to domestic abuse.
The data comes at a time when state and federal governments are under pressure to address rising community safety concerns, with policing resources stretched across multiple priorities including counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and organised crime.
Analysis
Why This Matters
The scale of physical violence revealed by this data is striking. More than 1,000 assaults per day suggests systemic issues that go beyond policing and into broader social policy around mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence.
Background
The ABS conducts regular victimisation surveys to provide a more complete picture of crime than police-reported statistics alone, as many assaults go unreported.
What to Watch
How governments respond in the lead-up to the next federal election. Crime and safety are perennial vote-winners, and these numbers give both sides ammunition.