In a parliamentary committee hearing on the WA Police annual report, deputy police commissioner Stephen Brown said a number of factors had influenced a rise in domestic assault cases.

He said financial pressures had seen more males living at home, causing increased pressure in some households.

He also said FIFO mining work was on the rise, and police had seen domestic violence in those homes.

The latest WA Police annual report showed domestic assaults had risen 76.9% since 2009-2010, accounting for the entire 11% increase in total offences against the person.

Police said part of the rise was because people were now more inclined to report domestic violence.

But CME chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said police needed solid data to back up the FIFO claims.

“If there’s evidence, data or research – share it,” he said.

“The odd anecdote, isolated example, urban myth or neighbourhood gossip is not evidence.”

Smith said FIFO continued to be unfairly painted as the root society’s ills.

“Who shot JFK? – a FIFO worker. Where is Harold Holt? – doing FIFO in the Pilbara,” he said.

“FIFO is getting the blame for just about everything that’s wrong in modern society and resources sector employees are getting sick of the stigma and being judged.”

Smith said there were more than 60,000 employees in WA doing FIFO, and a lack of understanding risked damaging an important part of the state economy.

“The incidence and impact of domestic violence is a serious issue for the community of WA to deal with,” he said.

“We need an evidence-based approach to tackling these broader societal problems rather than apportioning blame without evidence.”