Violence in Australia has been steadily decreasing for the last 20 years. The homicide rate, for example, has dropped by more than 60 percent since 1993. Kidnapping and abductions have halved over the same time. National data on assault is more difficult to find, but state-based data indicates assaults reported to police have also decreased.
Declining rates of violence rarely make news. Stories about violence or misused statistics (the sort of thing that will scare your grandmother) get lots of clicks and “what wrong with the world these days” comments on social media. A story that tells people they are safer than they used to be isn’t so appealing. It doesn’t hit the viral target of fear, racism and nostalgia like a “You’re All In Danger From African Gangs” headline will do.
