The data shows that natural mothers are far more likely to abuse children than their natural fathers, other than in sexual abuse, where mothers were responsible for only 13% of cases.

The past practice of lumping together de factos, live-in boy- friends and overnight male guests together with fathers as “male carers” has led to skewed beliefs about who abuses children.

In releasing these recent figures that identify natural fathers separately, the DCP has provided a clearer picture of who is likely to abuse children.

The figures - obtained under Freedom of Information provisions - provide a clearer picture of who is likely to abuse children in families. The data show that there were 1505 substantiations of child abuse in WA during 2007-8.

Natural parents were respon- sible for 37% of total cases. Of these, mothers are identi- fied as the perpetrator of neglect or abuse in 73% of cases, including over 50% of cases of physical abuse.

Read more here. Source data here.