A new legal service for indigenous victims of domestic abuse is a firm-stand against "generations of Aboriginal inequalities", according to victim advocates.
Premier Colin Barnett announced on Sunday that the WA government would commit $600,000 a year to establish the metropolitan legal service, to assist victims of family violence and sexual abuse.
Mr Barnett said the service is to be expected to open in May this year and is much needed to fill a gap in services in Perth.
"There are several family violence services for indigenous people in regional and remote Western Australia, but no dedicated service in the metropolitan area.
"This new service will close the gap and provide legal support and counselling to Perth's indigenous population," Mr Barnett said.
Victims of Crime advocate and aboriginal lawyer Dr Hannah McGlade said the issue of indigenous support had been raised for many years and the announcement of the new service was a "momentous day for Perth".
Dr McGlade said there had been generations of Aboriginal inequalities since the 60s and the funding towards the legal service has been long-awaited.
"Now it is time that we really take this firm stand which is what we are doing."
"The victims must be supported, that's the first most important thing and that's what this service will do. That's why this is a historic and mementus day for Perth," she said.
Dr McGlade said that violence within families is "sustained by societal attitudes" and the domestic violence service would help victims understand they have rights and potentially break the cycle.
"Violence is sustained by societal attitudes unfortunately and it's also underpinned by peoples own experience of violence and abuse growing-up."
"So if someone does witness a lot of violence when they're growing up they more likely to become an offender or they more likely to become involved in a relationship where violence is perpetrated on them," she said.
About 40 per cent of WA's indigenous population, approximately 28,000, reside in the metropolitan area, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
