Confronting truth: NT Police admit racism existed in the Force after coroner's scathing report into Kumanjayi Walker's death
The Northern Territory Police Force has acknowledged racism existed within the organisation a day after the Coroner handed down a scathing 600-page report into the death of a 19-year old Aboriginal teen.
Kumanjayi Walker was shot dead by former constable Zachary Rolfe after he was stabbed on November 9, 2019.
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage spent three years investigating Kumanjayi's life and the events surrounding his death finding the 'racist attitudes' of a constable attracted to 'high-adrenaline policing' contributed to his death.
She also found the NT Police Force was entrenched with institutional racism.
Acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the coroner's findings accepting all forms of racism existed within the NT Police Force at various times.
'This was borne out in the evidence received during this inquest that is confronting, but it is a truth that we must face, what was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable,' he said.
'We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms and making this a safer and fairer organisation for everybody.'
Commissioner Dole said they would carefully consider 18 recommendations directed to the NT Police Force by the coroner.
'We acknowledge the deep hurt that followed the events of the 9th November 2019 and the long inquest that followed,' he said.
'I extend my sincere sympathy to Kumanjayi's loved ones, and thank every witness and community member who contributed to the coroner's findings.
'These recommendations deserve to be considered properly, thoroughly and with the seriousness that they warrant.
'Our response will take time, because it must be meaningful and enduring.'
The commissioner said the NT Police force must listen, hear and act more closely with remote communities.
'That includes seriously re-examining how we return to a meaningful version of community policing, one that reflects the needs and expectations of Aboriginal people and builds trust at a local level,' he said.
'Our commitment is clear, lasting reform delivered transparently in partnership with Aboriginal communities.
'Only then can we move forward together in truth, respect and genuine understanding.'
Executive director Leanne Little said while the coroner's findings were deeply confronting, they were not new to many Aboriginal people.
She said what mattered now was how police responded to the findings.
'The Northern Territory Police Force is not going backwards, we are moving forward and over the past 12 months, I've already seen meaningful change occur across the organisation,' she said.
Ms Little is developing the Force's first anti-racism strategy to eliminate discrimination across the organisation.
'The coroner has made it clear, racism has existed in this organisation in all its forms,' she said.
'What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable, and that's not just a statement, that is a commitment.'
Ms Little said they would take any necessary actions to rebuild trust through sustained partnerships and culturally informed community policing.
'I believe that we are on the right path,' she said.
'The past cannot be undone, but the future is ours to shape.
'This is not the end of a difficult process, it is a beginning of something far more important, lasting reform, shared respect and a police force that all Territorians can trust.'
Coroner Armitage recommended that the NT Police make public and strengthen its anti-racism strategy in her report.
She also recommended police create agreements with Yuendumu leaders to decide when it would be appropriate for police to carry firearms in the community.
'NT Police Force must take steps through its training, supervision, culture and leadership to ensure racist attitudes do not develop and if they do, they are identified and corrected and are not tolerated or condoned,' Ms Armitage said.
'To be clear, many of the police officers who gave evidence to the inquest impressed me as curious and culturally sensitive officers who dedicated their working lives to serving the largely Aboriginal communities they were tasked to police,' she said.
'They were not racist. Even so, I found that racist language and actions were not confined to Mr Rolfe and this was not a case of one bad apple.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
20 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Family 'validated' over coroner's police racism finding
A community says it has "had enough" of police after a coronial inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager renewed allegations of racism. Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe in the community of Yuendumu in 2019. In handing down her findings into the 19-year-old's death, coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she found Mr Rolfe to be racist and the Northern Territory Police Force to have "the hallmarks of institutionalised racism". Mr Rolfe maintained in a statement issued by his lawyer on Tuesday that it "was never about race". Mr Walker's family welcomed the coroner's findings. "When we heard the coroner say there was structural and entrenched racism in the NT Police Force, we felt validated as a family," Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown said in Yuendumu on Tuesday Ms Fernandez-Brown said she was grateful the coroner's findings were handed down in the community, 300km from Alice Springs, on Monday. But she said recommendations around police accountability in the NT were not strong enough. "We heard countless evidence about how the police have been racist, how they have been violent and how they have used too much force when it comes to our people," Ms Fernandez-Brown said. The coroner's findings were postponed after the death of another Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in Alice Springs in May. Mr White's grandfather, senior Yuendumu Elder Ned Hargraves, said something must be done. "We've had enough of these police," he said. "They are doing the biggest damage to our community ... they have no shame whatsoever." NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said it was clear racism existed in the force. "It is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable," he said in Alice Springs. Mr Dole said a decision to leave Yuendumu shortly after the findings were handed down was made after discussions with Elders. His comments come after Mr Hargraves expressed his disappointment the commissioner left the community without speaking with him. "I apologise that he feels that way," Mr Dole said. "I did have consultations with several of the Elders and we thought it best that meeting take place in future days." Mr Hargraves said he would be strongly against the commissioner returning to Yuendumu. "I won't talk to him again ... I don't want to," he said. The force's cultural reform executive director Leanne Liddle said NT Police was working to rebuild trust through an anti-racism strategy. Ms Fernandez-Brown said while she would like to remain optimistic about structural change, she wouldn't "hold my breath" for that to come from within the NT police force. "Asking the Northern Territory police force to become safe is unsustainable and a band-aid solution," she said. "I'd like to see a structure that replaces that altogether." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A community says it has "had enough" of police after a coronial inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager renewed allegations of racism. Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe in the community of Yuendumu in 2019. In handing down her findings into the 19-year-old's death, coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she found Mr Rolfe to be racist and the Northern Territory Police Force to have "the hallmarks of institutionalised racism". Mr Rolfe maintained in a statement issued by his lawyer on Tuesday that it "was never about race". Mr Walker's family welcomed the coroner's findings. "When we heard the coroner say there was structural and entrenched racism in the NT Police Force, we felt validated as a family," Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown said in Yuendumu on Tuesday Ms Fernandez-Brown said she was grateful the coroner's findings were handed down in the community, 300km from Alice Springs, on Monday. But she said recommendations around police accountability in the NT were not strong enough. "We heard countless evidence about how the police have been racist, how they have been violent and how they have used too much force when it comes to our people," Ms Fernandez-Brown said. The coroner's findings were postponed after the death of another Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in Alice Springs in May. Mr White's grandfather, senior Yuendumu Elder Ned Hargraves, said something must be done. "We've had enough of these police," he said. "They are doing the biggest damage to our community ... they have no shame whatsoever." NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said it was clear racism existed in the force. "It is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable," he said in Alice Springs. Mr Dole said a decision to leave Yuendumu shortly after the findings were handed down was made after discussions with Elders. His comments come after Mr Hargraves expressed his disappointment the commissioner left the community without speaking with him. "I apologise that he feels that way," Mr Dole said. "I did have consultations with several of the Elders and we thought it best that meeting take place in future days." Mr Hargraves said he would be strongly against the commissioner returning to Yuendumu. "I won't talk to him again ... I don't want to," he said. The force's cultural reform executive director Leanne Liddle said NT Police was working to rebuild trust through an anti-racism strategy. Ms Fernandez-Brown said while she would like to remain optimistic about structural change, she wouldn't "hold my breath" for that to come from within the NT police force. "Asking the Northern Territory police force to become safe is unsustainable and a band-aid solution," she said. "I'd like to see a structure that replaces that altogether." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A community says it has "had enough" of police after a coronial inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager renewed allegations of racism. Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe in the community of Yuendumu in 2019. In handing down her findings into the 19-year-old's death, coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she found Mr Rolfe to be racist and the Northern Territory Police Force to have "the hallmarks of institutionalised racism". Mr Rolfe maintained in a statement issued by his lawyer on Tuesday that it "was never about race". Mr Walker's family welcomed the coroner's findings. "When we heard the coroner say there was structural and entrenched racism in the NT Police Force, we felt validated as a family," Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown said in Yuendumu on Tuesday Ms Fernandez-Brown said she was grateful the coroner's findings were handed down in the community, 300km from Alice Springs, on Monday. But she said recommendations around police accountability in the NT were not strong enough. "We heard countless evidence about how the police have been racist, how they have been violent and how they have used too much force when it comes to our people," Ms Fernandez-Brown said. The coroner's findings were postponed after the death of another Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in Alice Springs in May. Mr White's grandfather, senior Yuendumu Elder Ned Hargraves, said something must be done. "We've had enough of these police," he said. "They are doing the biggest damage to our community ... they have no shame whatsoever." NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said it was clear racism existed in the force. "It is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable," he said in Alice Springs. Mr Dole said a decision to leave Yuendumu shortly after the findings were handed down was made after discussions with Elders. His comments come after Mr Hargraves expressed his disappointment the commissioner left the community without speaking with him. "I apologise that he feels that way," Mr Dole said. "I did have consultations with several of the Elders and we thought it best that meeting take place in future days." Mr Hargraves said he would be strongly against the commissioner returning to Yuendumu. "I won't talk to him again ... I don't want to," he said. The force's cultural reform executive director Leanne Liddle said NT Police was working to rebuild trust through an anti-racism strategy. Ms Fernandez-Brown said while she would like to remain optimistic about structural change, she wouldn't "hold my breath" for that to come from within the NT police force. "Asking the Northern Territory police force to become safe is unsustainable and a band-aid solution," she said. "I'd like to see a structure that replaces that altogether." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A community says it has "had enough" of police after a coronial inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager renewed allegations of racism. Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe in the community of Yuendumu in 2019. In handing down her findings into the 19-year-old's death, coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she found Mr Rolfe to be racist and the Northern Territory Police Force to have "the hallmarks of institutionalised racism". Mr Rolfe maintained in a statement issued by his lawyer on Tuesday that it "was never about race". Mr Walker's family welcomed the coroner's findings. "When we heard the coroner say there was structural and entrenched racism in the NT Police Force, we felt validated as a family," Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown said in Yuendumu on Tuesday Ms Fernandez-Brown said she was grateful the coroner's findings were handed down in the community, 300km from Alice Springs, on Monday. But she said recommendations around police accountability in the NT were not strong enough. "We heard countless evidence about how the police have been racist, how they have been violent and how they have used too much force when it comes to our people," Ms Fernandez-Brown said. The coroner's findings were postponed after the death of another Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in Alice Springs in May. Mr White's grandfather, senior Yuendumu Elder Ned Hargraves, said something must be done. "We've had enough of these police," he said. "They are doing the biggest damage to our community ... they have no shame whatsoever." NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said it was clear racism existed in the force. "It is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable," he said in Alice Springs. Mr Dole said a decision to leave Yuendumu shortly after the findings were handed down was made after discussions with Elders. His comments come after Mr Hargraves expressed his disappointment the commissioner left the community without speaking with him. "I apologise that he feels that way," Mr Dole said. "I did have consultations with several of the Elders and we thought it best that meeting take place in future days." Mr Hargraves said he would be strongly against the commissioner returning to Yuendumu. "I won't talk to him again ... I don't want to," he said. The force's cultural reform executive director Leanne Liddle said NT Police was working to rebuild trust through an anti-racism strategy. Ms Fernandez-Brown said while she would like to remain optimistic about structural change, she wouldn't "hold my breath" for that to come from within the NT police force. "Asking the Northern Territory police force to become safe is unsustainable and a band-aid solution," she said. "I'd like to see a structure that replaces that altogether." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
ABC News
35 minutes ago
- ABC News
Hannah McGuire murder accused Lachlan Young set to face a jury
A jury is expected to be empanelled today in the murder trial of the man accused of killing young Clunes woman Hannah McGuire. Lachlan Young faces one count of murder over the death of Ms McGuire, his former partner. He is expected to plead not guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria when the trial begins. Ms McGuire was reported missing by her family in April last year and her body found in a vehicle that had been destroyed by fire south-west of Ballarat. Until yesterday, the matter was subject to a suppression order. The trial is expected to run for five weeks.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
77 per cent of childcare workers operating below safety requirements, union survey finds
More concerns have been raised about safety at childcare centres, with three-quarters of workers telling a survey their place of work was operating below minimum staffing levels at least weekly. The United Workers Union survey of 2,100 childcare workers also found that 42 per cent of workers said their centre was operating below minimum staffing levels on a daily basis. The findings come after the charging of a Melbourne childcare worker with more than 70 offences, including sexual assault, and a long-running ABC investigation revealed examples of profit being placed above care. "While examining the tragic events revealed in Melbourne last week, we also need to understand the alarm that is being sounded by educators," UWU early education director Carolyn Smith said. "Workers report children are left without emotional support, without adequate supervision to stop them hurting themselves or others, and without appropriate education." The union survey was conducted before the Melbourne childcare worker was charged. "I can't even guarantee the safety of the children and myself. I feel sad, unsafe and stressful every day," a Victorian worker told the survey. Do you have a story to share? Email The for-profit operyators that dominate the childcare sector pay staff less and rely more on casual workers, an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation in 2023 found. "Partly because of understaffing, we see a real churn of staff moving through centres, and that's when we don't have that safe, quality environment we need," Ms Smith said. The issues highlighted in the ABC investigation echo the UWU survey, which revealed the top four concerns of educators. Preeti Soodan, a Melbourne educator at a large for-profit provider, told ABC News childcare workers had too many demands placed on them, including cleaning and administration. "There are many challenges we face during the day. We keep changing the hats; we are educators, we are leaders, we are supervising the children, we have many responsibilities with documentation," Ms Soodan said. "We don't only educate them, we have to wipe the tables, clean them, support them emotionally. Throughout our day, we are always juggling." Ms Soodan is a trained primary school teacher with more than a decade's experience working in Australia and India. She said workers were treated as "glorified babysitters" rather than educators. "The neuroscience tells us that 90 per cent of the brain develops till the age of five, so you can understand how precious this profession is," Ms Soodan said. The UWU survey revealed 83 per cent of workers agreed a common staffing loophole called the "under the roof" ratio was used by centres and compromised the wellbeing of children. Ratios are designed to ensure a minimum of staff are present at all times to supervise children but the numbers of workers required in each room varies according to the age of the children. Some staff count all workers "under the roof" rather than numbers in individual rooms required under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and state-based regulators. "Educators tell us that what was supposed to be a commonsense stopgap for changes that occur at centres through the day, has become an overused staffing loophole, entrenching educators regularly working below minimum staffing requirements in their rooms," Ms Smith said. Even where ratios were being met, staff reported an increase in children with additional needs meant safety was still being compromised. "We always work with the correct ratio, but the increase of children with higher needs is making current ratios completely inappropriate," a New South Wales educator told the union survey. Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Senator Jess Walsh said the survey results were "very concerning". "Providers must meet minimum staffing levels to provide safe, quality early education and care," she said. "We will work with educators and their union to address the concerns raised in this survey." The minister said the government last year agreed to spend $3.6 billion to give childcare workers a pay rise and job vacancies were falling in the sector. The Australian Childcare Alliance, a lobby group representing for-profit providers, said its members had been working with government to improve attraction and retention of workers. "We are unable to comment on a survey with no oversight of the detail included in the data," a spokesperson said. "The sector is rightfully expected to comply with the regulations and National Quality Framework at all times. This is non-negotiable."
