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Family 'validated' over coroner's police racism finding
Family 'validated' over coroner's police racism finding

The Advertiser

time08-07-2025

  • 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

Canada tables 'One Canadian Economy' Bill to boost domestic trade and infrastructure
Canada tables 'One Canadian Economy' Bill to boost domestic trade and infrastructure

Economic Times

time07-06-2025

  • Business
  • Economic Times

Canada tables 'One Canadian Economy' Bill to boost domestic trade and infrastructure

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government introduced Bill C-5, the "One Canadian Economy" bill, aiming to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers and expedite infrastructure project approvals. This initiative seeks to unify Canada's internal market, addressing trade tensions with the U.S. The bill targets federal obstacles to trade and labor mobility, potentially boosting the Canadian economy by $200 billion annually. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has introduced Bill C-5 to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers, expedite major infrastructure projects and to boost domestic trade. It will unify Canada's internal market amid rising trade tensions with the US. (Image Credit: AP) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Accelerating Nation-Building Projects Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Responding to US Trade Pressures Legislative Outlook Prime Minister Mark Carney 's government has introduced Bill C-5 , the "One Canadian Economy" bill, to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers and expedite the approval of major infrastructure projects. This legislative move seeks to unify Canada 's fragmented internal market and strengthen its economy amid escalating trade tensions with the United was tabled after a first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, during which Prime Minister Mark Carney , premiers, and territorial leaders discussed expediting major projects and interprovincial trade. The proposed legislation targets the elimination of federal obstacles to interprovincial trade and labor said that these internal barriers cost the Canadian economy approximately $200 billion annually. By aligning federal regulations with those of the provinces and territories, the bill will create a cohesive national market for the free movement of goods, services, and labor across Canada.'With the 'One Canadian Economy' bill, we are aligning federal rules and regulations with those from the provinces and territories, helping to create one market, not 13,' Carney said on Friday, June Canadian Chamber of Commerce supported the initiative, noting that while it may not entirely counteract the effects of a trade war with the US, it represents a significant step toward internal economic Holmes, the Chamber's chief of public policy, stated that eliminating exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is a logical progression toward true free trade within addition to addressing trade barriers, the bill proposes a streamlined process for approving major infrastructure projects deemed of national interest. The government plans to establish a federal office dedicated to expediting project approvals, potentially reducing timelines from up to a decade to just two projects would include those in the energy, mining, and transportation sectors, provided they offer significant economic and environmental benefits, such as carbon emission reductions and support for Indigenous provincial governments' autonomy, Carney has assured that no projects will proceed without their some provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia, have expressed differing views on specific introduction of the "One Canadian Economy" bill comes in the wake of increased US tariffs on Canadian exports. Carney has labeled these tariffs as "unlawful" and emphasized the need for Canada to bolster its domestic approach includes engaging with the oil industry to balance environmental goals with economic have centered around supporting new pipelines and carbon capture initiatives, aiming to position Canada as an energy leader while reducing reliance on U.S. government wants to pass the "One Canadian Economy" bill before Parliament's summer recess, though the timeline remains tight. As a minority government, the Liberals will need to garner support from opposition parties to ensure the bill's outcome will significantly influence Canada's economic strategy and its ability to navigate current and future trade legislative effort represents a bold move toward unifying Canada's internal market and enhancing its economic sovereignty. If successful, it could pave the way for increased domestic trade, improved infrastructure, and a more resilient national economy.

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