NT Police reject call for independent investigation death in custody
Samantha Donovan: Well back to Australia now and in the Northern Territory, police have ruled out an independent investigation of the death of an Indigenous man in their custody this week. 24-year-old Kumunjai White was disabled and in state care. He died after being arrested in an Alice Springs supermarket for suspected theft. His family held a vigil there today and they're adamant his death must be investigated by someone other than the NT police. Myles Houlbrook-Walk reports.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: In the same aisles of the supermarket where Kumunjai White died, his family today have held a vigil mourning the loss of the 24-year-old Waltbury man.
Ned Hargraves: No more. No more! We are saying enough is enough! Hear our words.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: His grandfather, Ned Hargrave, spoke of sorrow for his family and the remote Aboriginal community of Yundamoo in Central Australia where Kumunjai White was from before moving to supported accommodation for his disabilities in Alice Springs. Earlier this week, several senior Waltbury leaders had called for an independent investigation.
Ned Hargraves: We want justice for my jaja, my grandson. I'm sure there is another way, another better way of dealing with things, dealing with people.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Robin Japanagka Granites called for those in the supermarket when Kumunjai White died to come forward to assist the investigation.
Robin Japanagka Granites: When we get everyone together, we need everyone to tell us what had happened. The truth will tell us and get us all back to normal. And in a normal way, we will talk to each other and tell us what can we do about it.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: There's been limited detail so far about the nature of the arrest. Northern Territory Police have said the young Waltbury man was placing items down the front of his clothes at the Cole's supermarket in Alice Springs when he was confronted by security guards. Two police officers in plain clothes were in the supermarket at the time and restrained the man. One person who says they were an eyewitness and asked to remain anonymous told the ABC they heard a lot of shouting and a lot of commotion.
Opinion: What it was, I can't be sure, but yeah, it looked pretty violent. And then, yeah, they slammed into the ground. There's just like lots of shouting.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: As for calls for an independent investigation, they were today rejected by Police Commissioner Martin Dole, who in a statement confirmed he'd spoken to both officers. He extended sincere condolences to the family, friends and community of the man who died. He contacted both officers directly involved in the incident on Tuesday evening and understood the high level of public interest in the matter. However, said he would respectfully reject calls for the investigation to be handed to an external body. The statement went on to say.
Martin Dole: This incident is being investigated by the major crime division which operates under strict protocols and with full transparency. The investigation will also be independently reviewed by the NT coroner who has broad powers to examine all aspects of the incident and make findings without interference.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Thalia Anthony is a professor of law at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Thalia Anthony: There are concerns in the community about police investigating police. We know for Aboriginal people that has not given them a sense of justice or accountability. And I think the only way to change this record is to do something different.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: She says the nature of the man's arrest, given his disability, needs to be closely examined.
Thalia Anthony: Given that he was already under state care, I think it's going to be asked by the coroner, why did he get to this situation where he was in a supermarket allegedly hiding food? And then that triggered not only the security officer to get involved, but also the police to get involved.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Thalia Anthony pointed to the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody and its findings regarding the importance of independent oversight of police.
Thalia Anthony: The 1991 Royal Commission to Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was concerned with reinvestigating 99 Aboriginal deaths in custody because of the flawed nature of police investigating police. And so one of their most strident recommendations was that within 48 hours, an officer attached to the coroner should investigate the root cause of a death in custody. And the imminence of this investigation was essential.
Samantha Donovan: Law Professor Thalia Anthony from the University of Technology Sydney.Myles Houlbrook-Walk, the reporter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
20 minutes ago
- ABC News
Student activists say freedom of speech is under attack
When Finn Penter hung six posters outside a lecture theatre at his university, he had no idea it would lead to a formal reprimand. Finn, a member of the University of Western Australia's (UWA) student guild, hung the posters to alert others to changes in university regulations that he believes would limit students right to protest. The six posters bore the slogans "free speech is under attack" and "clubs are under attack". He is also a member of the Socialist Alternative and has been involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campus. "I think it's quite ludicrous that they're equating those acts with the act of expressing my political opinion." The UWA would not comment directly on Finn's disciplinary process, but in a statement a spokesperson said the use of posters and stickers on university buildings had always been restricted to the Guild area on campus. "Unfortunately, last year there was a notable lack of regard shown to the university, its grounds, and our buildings," the spokesperson said. "Our university security officers, who prioritise the safety of our students, were required on multiple occasions to divert resources to removing posters, chalk and stickers." Finn believes his disciplinary action is a sign of UWA cracking down on freedom on speech. Earlier this year the UWA also implemented a ban on student announcements before lectures. That ban has now been eased and students are able to make announcements if they have permission from the university. Other universities around the country are making similar changes. They come after Palestinian solidarity protests and encampments, but universities say the new rules are not specifically related to pro-Palestinian activism. Monash University in Melbourne implemented a new student code of conduct at the start of this year. The code included a clause which prevented students from acting in a way that would "adversely impact the reputation of the university". That reference to reputation has since been removed from the code. The new student code also prohibits students from disrupting "orderly conduct" of any university-related activity. A spokesperson for Monash said the university supports students academic freedom and freedom of speech. "The University developed the Student Code in consultation with student representatives and has continued to consult with student groups," the spokesperson said. "It was agreed that a previous reference to reputation in the Code was incorrectly included, and was then subsequently removed." Madi Curkovic, who is a member of the Monash Student Association, is worried the university is trying to stop students speaking out against the university. She has faced disciplinary action in the past for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. "The question of having free and open discussions is something that should be part of university life … but there is a slow encroachment," she said. In the heart of Melbourne, students at the University of Melbourne have told triple j hack police have visited the homes of students involved in on campus activism. One student, who didn't want their name used, said the police visit left her scared she would get raided. The police visits related to a particular protest in the office of a University of Melbourne academic. Students, some of whom were masked and wearing keffiyehs, entered the office chanting and putting up stickers. The student protesters said they acted peacefully and entered the office during open office hours. But Steven Prawer, the academic involved, told triple j hack the protest was "frightening" and "intimidating". Victoria Police said officers attended the incident and moved students on, but did not confirm if investigations are still ongoing. A spokesperson for the University of Melbourne said the university was in regular contact with police to ensure campuses remain safe spaces for staff, students and visitors. "Where there are instances of unacceptable behaviour, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which, for actions that may be criminal, may involve referral to the police," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said the university supports students right to protest and that since a ban on indoor protests was implemented in March, students and staff have reported feeling safer on campus. The University of Sydney is also considering changes to protest rules on campus. In January the university proposed banning lecturer announcements, mass emails and the display of banners without prior approval. The proposals were made in response to an external review of university regulations after last year's Palestinian solidarity encampments. The head of University of Sydney's Australasian Union of Jewish Students, Dror Liraz, told triple j hack she doesn't believe people's right to free speech is under attack. "The new guidelines aren't restricting anything, protests can still happen, and you can still protest whatever you like," she said. Dror, who was born in Israel, was part of a protest movement last year calling for the resignation of University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott. She said it has been incredibly difficult to be on campus over the past 12 months. "I'm struggling to keep up with work," Dror said. "I remember during the encampment when things were especially intense, I would just sit in front of the computer trying to write my assignments and just would not be able to. "I would not be able to think about anything else apart from the fact that there seems to be people at my university, who no matter how hard I try, just seem to hate me." Dror believes having some restrictions on how and when people can protest could help protect Jewish students. "If you think that antisemitism falls into your freedom of speech, then that's just blatant racism."
News.com.au
26 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Jack Duncan ‘proud' of himself despite Melbourne Victory's grand final loss
The A-League grand final was a bittersweet experience for Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan. While disappointed that his side was beaten 1-0 by crosstown rivals Melbourne City, Duncan was thrilled to play in the decider at AAMI Park after the devastation of being dropped in January to make way for returning former Socceroos gloveman Mitch Langerak. 'That was one of the lowest points of my whole career because I felt like I was at a real strong point in my own form, but I understood that the results weren't coming and we needed to change something, and that was something that they could change, and decided to do that,' Duncan said. The former Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix custodian knew the situation last year when he signed with the Victory – he was keeping the goalkeeper's spot for Langerak until the latter's return to the club in January after 14 years abroad. 'At the start of the (season), I was playing every game, and then obviously, when Mitch came in, the coach (Arthur Diles) made a decision to change,' Duncan said. However, Duncan kept working hard and got an unexpected opportunity in late April when Langerak injured his foot. It resulted in Duncan starting in the Victory's final six games of the club's 2024-25 campaign, including Saturday night's competition decider. 'Football has a funny way of coming back around, and I just worked every day to be there if the opportunity came again, and it thankfully did, for my own sake, and I was able to experience incredible nights like (the grand final). 'It's been a tough season in some aspects, but in others, an incredibly rewarding season. 'I am proud of the season I've had.' He was also proud of his Victory teammates for their grand final performance. 'The boys left everything out on the pitch. You could see the effort, the intent from minute one to the last kick of the game, but unfortunately in finals games, small margins determine the result, and unfortunately for us, Melbourne City won those margins,' Duncan said. 'We had a really good season to be here on the final day, and unfortunately we just fell short.' Duncan revealed that his effort of 19 games this season was enough to trigger a contract extension with the Victory. 'We'll see how the off-season unfolds. I've loved every minute of my time at the club so far, the fans have been unbelievable towards me,' he said. 'The noise when I went out to warm up (for the grand final) was something that will stay with me for forever. 'It was an incredible experience, and I can't thank them enough for how they've treated me, and the support that they gave me and all the boys throughout the year. It was really special.'
ABC News
32 minutes ago
- ABC News
Liberal dysfunction allows Labor to get away scot-free on emissions failure
One consequence of a broken, distracted and internally-focused opposition is that it gives the government leeway to do what it wants. Unencumbered. Add a thumping electoral majority to the mix and what might be considered confidence can easily morph into hubris. Labor is easily managing politically vexed problems while the dysfunction of the other side chews up endless column inches. And to be fair, the ongoing fracturing of the Coalition is indeed a compelling story. Australians voted for a House of Representatives in which as many as 110 seats out of 150 could broadly be categorised as "progressive". The remainder are conservative. That the Coalition would conclude from that result, as some conservatives loudly assert, that the answer is to veer even harder to the right by doubling down on culture wars is rather surprising. "Really? What voters really wanted was a culture war out on the right?" said former Liberal candidate and political consultant David Gazzard. "If only we'd had a big old dinger with right wing ideology they would have voted for us?" It's hard to shake the impression the Coalition continues to miss the May 3 memo from voters. Sussan Ley and David Littleproud — both perched atop the restive dragon tails of their respective party rooms — have determined that net zero needs to be debated, reviewed and potentially dumped. As one reader noted to this columnist, the whole scene is "like going to a party with old mates and realising you got your shit together and they're still on the bongs". While the Coalition figures out how to mature its energy and climate idea over the next six years — during which time the renewables rollout will continue to deepen — the real game is with the government and what it's doing and not doing to manage a series of tricky decision points. Nowhere is this more evident than Labor's move to green-light an extension to Woodside's North West shelf gas project. Given the backlash, Labor was politically canny to postpone its decision from the original deadline that would have coincided with the election. Seats the government nearly lost to climate action independents such as Fremantle in WA and Bean in the ACT would no doubt have fallen. Wills in Victoria might have gone to the Greens. Adam Bandt might still be in parliament. When it came on Wednesday, the project approval itself was no great surprise. Woodside has been jumping through existing state and federal regulatory and environmental hoops and clearing them for the best part of seven years. Manufacturing unions and WA's mining industry are delighted. Minerals Council of Australia chief Tania Constable told the ABC on Friday that future critical minerals rare earth production needs the gas at competitive prices to develop those resources. Murray Watt, who replaced Tanya Plibersek in the environment portfolio after the May 3 election, is pretty much the final rubber stamp. But by extending the operating licence for the NorthWest Shelf from 2030 to 2070, Woodside and its investment partners can now work to unlock the vast Browse Basin off the WA coast, which climate groups have branded a "carbon bomb". Watt has given Woodside until this coming week to agree to a number of final conditions. These likely relate mostly to the proximate impact on Indigenous rock art of industrial emissions released during liquefaction of gas for export. While relevant, such plant-level impacts are relatively minor. The emissions that really matter are those associated with the energy-intensive process of converting extracted gas into a liquefied form for export shipment. Alongside "fugitive emissions" from leaks and flaring, such energy use across the gas industry accounts for a significant portion of overall national emissions. Potentially up to 10 per cent a year, according to Climate Change Authority data. Critically for Labor, those "scope two" emissions don't come for free. They add to the nationwide pollution burden and they weigh on Australia's global reputation as a fossil fuel super polluter that exports "scope three" emissions at an industrial scale. Australia is about to ramp up its efforts in coming months to win hosting rights to next year's UN climate summit and younger voters continue to register alarm over the lack of urgency over climate action. All of this should be uncomfortable ground for Labor. Were the Liberals not still arguing about the basic entry-level proposition of whether net zero by 2050 should remain on their policy books, they might instead be squeezing the government over the North West shelf decision and its climate policy performance more broadly. Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen is currently awaiting advice from the Climate Change Authority on what the nation's 2035 emissions reduction target should be. Authority chairman Matt Kean — a former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister appointed by Labor nearly a year ago — is busy crunching the numbers on a proposed emissions target for 2035. The range the authority believes is consistent with Australia meeting its obligations to the Paris climate agreement (which seeks to limit global average temperature increases "to well below 2 degrees Celsius") would be an emissions cut of between 65 per cent and 75 per cent of the nation's level in 2005. That would extend the current 2030 target for a 43 per cent reduction. This column understands the Climate Change Authority's modelling does not currently include the impact from the Woodside extension or Browse, but that it will be significant. That work is being done now. For Bowen the yet-to-be answered question is how exactly this gets managed under his existing Safeguard Mechanism policy. A carrot and stick approach that aims to force down industrial and resources emissions in coming years, the mechanism works by penalising big polluters that fail to adopt low-emissions alternatives or by making them buy a limited pool of carbon offsets. Kean, who has plenty of experience in this space, will no doubt be urging Labor to make Woodside pay its own emissions bill rather than socialising the cost on the rest of the economy. Kean might indeed be telling Bowen that the company, which maintains an official "aspiration of net zero by 2050 or sooner", be required to source the energy it needs for its export operations from renewables rather than fossil fuels. That would be expensive. But so is decarbonising an entire economy. Watt does not appear to have put any such condition on Woodside, but that does not mean the issue now goes away. Labor is racing to pass its environmental protection legislation when parliament resumes next month. The Greens, whom Labor needs in the Senate, will again likely insist that climate impacts of big new projects like Browse be taken into consideration. Labor counters that its Safeguard Mechanism should be the primary policy of industrial emissions action. But Australians are yet to see firm evidence it's working as advertised. Indeed the government continues to whistle past the graveyard on national emissions. Official quarterly data released on Friday shows Australia's greenhouse gas reduction performance has tanked. Emissions inched lower last year by an essentially invisible 0.05 per cent to an estimated 446.4 million tonnes, the fourth year in a row that progress has stalled. To get emissions down to 350 million tonnes — the legislated 2030 target — will now require six straight years in which pollution falls by an average 3.6 per cent. A tall order, you might say. The reasons behind this weak performance are equally discouraging. Agricultural emissions fell 2 per cent last year because crop production declined. Energy emissions were up 2.2 per cent because lower hydro generation led to more reliance on coal power. Meanwhile transport was up 1.9 per cent as aviation consumption reached a record. The only good news was from industry, where emissions fell 5 per cent thanks to technology and production changes in chemicals and metals sectors. Labor's safeguard mechanism is "inadequate" for the challenges facing the nation because of emissions such as the NorthWest Shelf, warns Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, a group that campaigns against climate pollution. "There's no way to sequester those emissions," McKenzie says. "If you allow your fossil fuel sector to expand and you don't have tight enough targets in the safeguard that put pressure on those projects to cut emissions, then other sectors like agriculture and transport have to do more. "The idea that this is an offshore problem is entirely false because any fossil fuel project is using fossil fuels for export. "So we have to account for that climate pollution in Australia." It's a point the opposition might care to make. If it wasn't so busy toying with a world where doing nothing is the apparent answer.
