Latest news with #KatieKiss
SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- SBS Australia
Coroner's report finds death of Kumanjayi Walker was 'avoidable', recognises 'years of grief and trauma'
Warning: this article contains distressing and violent content and the name and photo of an Aboriginal person who has died. After almost three years of waiting, the Yuendumu community have heard the final coronial assessment of the police shooting of 19-year-old Warlpiri- Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker in November 2019. Coroner Elizabeth Armitage travelled to Yuendumu to deliver the findings, detailed in a 683 page document which includes 32 recommendations. Speaking after Ms Armitage addressed the community, a member of Mr Walker's family, Samara Fernandez-Brown said it will take time for the family and community to process the findings. "We're all feeling really exhausted and quite overwhelmed, and there is so much that we need to go through. I don't want to make too much of a comment now because I want to understand what everything means before I'm going too far." On November 9 2019, Mr Walker was fatally shot three times during an attempted arrest by then Northern Territory police constable Zachary Rolfe. Following a six-week trial in 2022, Mr Rolfe was acquitted of all charges related to the shooting. A coronial inquest into Mr Walker's death was initially set for 3 months, but was marred by lengthy delays. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, Katie Kiss says three years on, understanding the weight of the findings is to recognise the years of grief and trauma the community have experienced. "And that community there have been waiting for this coroner's report to be handed down for three years now. But they've been in a constant state of grief and trauma for six years since Kumanjayi's death. And with the most recent death of Kumanjayi White, they're kept in that constant state of trauma and grief now, waiting for the next coronial report to be handed down. So these coroners reports are significant. They are focused on reform and transformation of systems that hurt and harm people." Judge Armitage's report found Mr Walker's death was avoidable, and that the state's police force failed to protect the public through poor supervision and management of Mr Rolfe's use of force. It details at least five occasions prior to Mr Walker's death when Mr Rolfe used unnecessary force, and finds there were other occasions where force was avoidable. Speaking in Yuendemu, Ms Armitage said Mr Rolfe showed evidence of racist attitudes which were a part of a work environment that normalised racism. "I found that Mr Rolfe was racist and that he worked in and was the beneficiary of an organization with hallmarks of institutional racism. I'm satisfied that there is a significant risk that his racism, in combination with some of his other attitudes and values affected his interactions with the community of Yuendumu on the ninth of November, 2019, his entry into their houses and his perception of and response to the young Aboriginal man he shot and killed." The report's 32 recommendations for reform include an investigation into whether firearms should be worn in Aboriginal communities, and for the Northern Territory's anti-racism strategy to be strengthened and reports on compliance made public. "The 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." The Coroner also recommends that the Northern Territory Police should engage directly with Yuendumu leadership groups, and urges the state government to invest in diversion and rehabilitation programs. Ms Kiss says the Human Rights Commission supports this urgent call for more preventative measures to reduce young people's interactions with the criminal justice system. "In terms of them being in those institutions in the first place, we need to see the investment in early intervention and prevention that would prevent our people from being in those circumstances in the first place and at risk of being killed while they're in state care. Effectively, we need to invest in diversionary measures, alcohol and drug support and youth services in those communities." Speaking to ABC Radio, Northern Territory Labour MP Marion Scrymgour has said the Northern Territory government needs to take the recommendations seriously. "We've already started looking at some of those recommendations, but there are some very clear lines that have been drawn in the sand here, and I think that it is on the Northern Territory government that they need to come to the table, work with the community, work with the federal government to try and get a good pathway through." Ms Kiss says the government now has a responsibility to break a long pattern of inaction since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed down its recommendations in 1991. "Now since the Royal Commission, we've had 600 further deaths in custody and 13 of those just this year. So that means we've had, or we will have nearly 600 coronial findings and recommendations and conclusions made that again, will go on shelves and not get implemented unless government take action here."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Clear pathway for reform' after fatal police shooting
The nation's longest-running coronial inquest has exposed "deeply disturbing" racism within an Australian police force, the human rights commission says. Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe during an attempted arrest at a home in Yuendumu, 300km northwest of Alice Springs, in November 2019. Handing down her findings into the 19-year-old's death, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found Mr Rolfe was racist, and could not rule out that these attitudes contributed to Mr Walker's death. Mr Walker's family briefly addressed the media after the 600-page findings were handed down but said they would take some time before commenting further on Tuesday. "We're all feeling really exhausted and quite overwhelmed and there is so much that we need to go through," Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez-Brown said. In delivering her findings on Monday, Judge Armitage said Mr Walker's death was avoidable. But Mr Rolfe was not just "a bad apple", she said, he worked in an organisation with "the hallmarks of institutionalised racism". Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said her heart was breaking for the family of Kumanjayi Walker and the community of Yuendumu. "Racism is running rife in our institutions, and it lies at the heart of these shocking injustices," Ms Kiss said. "These findings, delivered on the lands of Yuendumu people - Kumanjayi Walker's people – not only outline who, and what, is to blame, but offer a clear pathway for reform." Ms Kiss said she hoped the coroner's findings would help prevent further tragedies. "Without an evidence and human rights based approach to justice and corrections, the unacceptable over representation of our peoples in custody, and dying in custody, will remain a national shame," she said. "(Judge Armitage's) findings must be the final alarm. This must end." The NT Police force said it would "carefully consider" the coroner's 32 recommendations, which included consulting with Yuendumu community leadership about when it may be appropriate for police not to carry firearms. A draft anti-racism strategy developed with the assistance of NT Aboriginal organisations will soon be released for broader consultation. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Truth-telling inquiry finds genocide was committed against Indigenous people in Victoria
Victoria's Yoorrook Justice Commission has delivered its final report on the history of injustice against Indigenous people in the state. It calls the history a genocide. The report's authors want the state government to offer financial redress and far greater self-determination for Indigenous people. It comes as federal Indigenous policy on reconciliation remains in flux following the failure of the Voice referendum in the Albanese government's first term. 7.30's Sarah Ferguson interviews Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Indigenous rights 'under attack' in youth crime reforms
The rights of Indigenous Australians are under attack and children have been subjected to "egregious breaches" of human rights, a leading advocate says. Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, made the remarks in delivering the Mabo Oration in Cairns on Friday. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often feel overwhelmed with the blatant attack on our rights, but we are not in isolation - this is a global phenomenon," Ms Kiss said in her speech, named in honour of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. "Indigenous peoples the world over and our rights are under attack. "We are in an invisible war for our survival, dignity and wellbeing." Ms Kiss said the attack on rights was not reflected "from our perspective" in media but instead being lived out in homes, communities and impacting the most vulnerable. She hit out at the "disregard and the wilful breach of children's rights proceeding unchecked and unchallenged in Queensland and the Northern Territory", two jurisdictions where governments were elected after taking 'tough on youth crime' approaches in election campaigns. Queensland is in the process of adding 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, while Northern Territory dropped the age of criminal responsibility to ten in addition to strengthening bail laws. "What is happening in Queensland are egregious breaches of human rights against children," Ms Kiss told the audience. She said it "speaks volumes" that Northern Territory chief minister Lia Finocchiaro and Queensland premier David Crisafulli were unfazed by rebukes from the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton. "The story of this land since colonisation is a tale of two worlds colliding that has continued for more than eight generations," Ms Kiss said. The rights of Indigenous Australians are under attack and children have been subjected to "egregious breaches" of human rights, a leading advocate says. Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, made the remarks in delivering the Mabo Oration in Cairns on Friday. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often feel overwhelmed with the blatant attack on our rights, but we are not in isolation - this is a global phenomenon," Ms Kiss said in her speech, named in honour of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. "Indigenous peoples the world over and our rights are under attack. "We are in an invisible war for our survival, dignity and wellbeing." Ms Kiss said the attack on rights was not reflected "from our perspective" in media but instead being lived out in homes, communities and impacting the most vulnerable. She hit out at the "disregard and the wilful breach of children's rights proceeding unchecked and unchallenged in Queensland and the Northern Territory", two jurisdictions where governments were elected after taking 'tough on youth crime' approaches in election campaigns. Queensland is in the process of adding 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, while Northern Territory dropped the age of criminal responsibility to ten in addition to strengthening bail laws. "What is happening in Queensland are egregious breaches of human rights against children," Ms Kiss told the audience. She said it "speaks volumes" that Northern Territory chief minister Lia Finocchiaro and Queensland premier David Crisafulli were unfazed by rebukes from the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton. "The story of this land since colonisation is a tale of two worlds colliding that has continued for more than eight generations," Ms Kiss said. The rights of Indigenous Australians are under attack and children have been subjected to "egregious breaches" of human rights, a leading advocate says. Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, made the remarks in delivering the Mabo Oration in Cairns on Friday. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often feel overwhelmed with the blatant attack on our rights, but we are not in isolation - this is a global phenomenon," Ms Kiss said in her speech, named in honour of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. "Indigenous peoples the world over and our rights are under attack. "We are in an invisible war for our survival, dignity and wellbeing." Ms Kiss said the attack on rights was not reflected "from our perspective" in media but instead being lived out in homes, communities and impacting the most vulnerable. She hit out at the "disregard and the wilful breach of children's rights proceeding unchecked and unchallenged in Queensland and the Northern Territory", two jurisdictions where governments were elected after taking 'tough on youth crime' approaches in election campaigns. Queensland is in the process of adding 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, while Northern Territory dropped the age of criminal responsibility to ten in addition to strengthening bail laws. "What is happening in Queensland are egregious breaches of human rights against children," Ms Kiss told the audience. She said it "speaks volumes" that Northern Territory chief minister Lia Finocchiaro and Queensland premier David Crisafulli were unfazed by rebukes from the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton. "The story of this land since colonisation is a tale of two worlds colliding that has continued for more than eight generations," Ms Kiss said. The rights of Indigenous Australians are under attack and children have been subjected to "egregious breaches" of human rights, a leading advocate says. Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, made the remarks in delivering the Mabo Oration in Cairns on Friday. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often feel overwhelmed with the blatant attack on our rights, but we are not in isolation - this is a global phenomenon," Ms Kiss said in her speech, named in honour of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. "Indigenous peoples the world over and our rights are under attack. "We are in an invisible war for our survival, dignity and wellbeing." Ms Kiss said the attack on rights was not reflected "from our perspective" in media but instead being lived out in homes, communities and impacting the most vulnerable. She hit out at the "disregard and the wilful breach of children's rights proceeding unchecked and unchallenged in Queensland and the Northern Territory", two jurisdictions where governments were elected after taking 'tough on youth crime' approaches in election campaigns. Queensland is in the process of adding 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, while Northern Territory dropped the age of criminal responsibility to ten in addition to strengthening bail laws. "What is happening in Queensland are egregious breaches of human rights against children," Ms Kiss told the audience. She said it "speaks volumes" that Northern Territory chief minister Lia Finocchiaro and Queensland premier David Crisafulli were unfazed by rebukes from the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton. "The story of this land since colonisation is a tale of two worlds colliding that has continued for more than eight generations," Ms Kiss said.
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Indigenous rights 'under attack' in youth crime reforms
The rights of Indigenous Australians are under attack and children have been subjected to "egregious breaches" of human rights, a leading advocate says. Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, made the remarks in delivering the Mabo Oration in Cairns on Friday. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often feel overwhelmed with the blatant attack on our rights, but we are not in isolation - this is a global phenomenon," Ms Kiss said in her speech, named in honour of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. "Indigenous peoples the world over and our rights are under attack. "We are in an invisible war for our survival, dignity and wellbeing." Ms Kiss said the attack on rights was not reflected "from our perspective" in media but instead being lived out in homes, communities and impacting the most vulnerable. She hit out at the "disregard and the wilful breach of children's rights proceeding unchecked and unchallenged in Queensland and the Northern Territory", two jurisdictions where governments were elected after taking 'tough on youth crime' approaches in election campaigns. Queensland is in the process of adding 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, while Northern Territory dropped the age of criminal responsibility to ten in addition to strengthening bail laws. "What is happening in Queensland are egregious breaches of human rights against children," Ms Kiss told the audience. She said it "speaks volumes" that Northern Territory chief minister Lia Finocchiaro and Queensland premier David Crisafulli were unfazed by rebukes from the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton. "The story of this land since colonisation is a tale of two worlds colliding that has continued for more than eight generations," Ms Kiss said.
