Latest news with #ElisabethArmitage
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Youth justice advocates warn Northern Territory is ‘winning race to the bottom' ahead of more reforms
As the dust settles on the long-awaited coronial findings into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, which detailed his troubled history with the youth justice system, agencies and advocates say they are grappling with how to ensure more young lives aren't lost. WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family. NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage on Monday handed down her long-awaited findings into the death of the Yuendumu teenager, who was fatally shot during an attempted arrest in November 2019. She made findings about Mr Walker's upbringing in remote central Australia — plagued by poverty and health issues — and his struggle to cope at school due to his disabilities, as well as periods of time spent in the criminal justice system. In the almost three years since the high-profile inquest began, the landscape of the Northern Territory's justice system has undergone significant changes. The age of criminal responsibility has been lowered from 12 back to 10, and a raft of bail reforms have been implemented. And when parliament resumes at the end of this month, the NT's Country Liberal Party (CLP) government is expected to introduce further changes to the Youth Justice Act — many of which have not yet been announced. The coroner's 680-page report is now being examined closely by those in the youth justice space in the hopes the report will signal to the NT government the need for a change in direction. The coroner's report canvassed Kumanjayi Walker's early life, which was marred by repeated exposure to domestic violence, substance abuse and neglect. Judge Armitage said Mr Walker was first charged with criminal offending at just 13 years old, marking the beginning of years in and out of custody. By age 16, he had been arrested for domestic assaults on his teenage partner and was battling addiction. NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk said Mr Walker's story reflected the experiences of many children caught in the justice system. "Many of them are in care or are well-known to the child protection system, many of them present with unmet disability, mental health and trauma needs," she said. While the coroner acknowledged it was beyond the scope of the inquest to make recommendations directed at implementing change in youth detention centres, she noted: "It seems reasonably clear that detention neither deterred nor rehabilitated Kumanjayi". Northern Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Anthony Bevan said the coroner's findings sent a clear message. "We've clearly seen from this inquest that deterrence and rehabilitation doesn't work in prison, doesn't work in custody," he said. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services general manager Melissa Clarke said an emphasis on punitive measures for young offenders was a growing trend across Australia. She said in the territory, lowering the age of criminal responsibility, tougher bail laws and overcrowded prisons were particular concerns. Ms Clarke said recent changes to bail in the NT and New South Wales, as well as Queensland's recent "adult time for adult crime" reforms, flew in the face of recommendations from previous inquiries and the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory. "Prisons are outrageously full, violating international law, and yet we have politicians doubling down," she said. Mr Bevan said tougher bail measures had led to a steep increase in the number of young people remanded in custody in the NT. "With the bail changes that came in, in April [2025], we've seen more than a doubling of the number of young people being held in custody," Mr Bevan said. Between periods in custody, Mr Walker had access to several rehabilitation and diversion programs including at the primary youth service in Yuendumu, the Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation (WYDAC), which was defunded in 2022 — something the coroner described as "particularly dispiriting". Among her 32 formal recommendations, the coroner called for the "review and expansion of services targeting engagement with young offenders, young people with disability, children who have dropped out of school, with a view to reducing offending behaviour". Another recommendation was for more rehabilitation and diversion services for at-risk young people in remote communities. The NT children's commissioner and heads of Aboriginal legal services said they hoped the report would signal to the NT government the need for a change in approach. "There's clearly a belief that they've got a mandate to be tougher on these young people, but the evidence goes against that," Ms Musk said. In a statement, an NT government spokesperson said the CLP had been "focused on reducing crime and restoring community safety". The spokesperson also pointed to the government's 2025-26 infrastructure budget which "includes support for youth diversion and homelessness services".
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
'Racism' in the NT police. Will the government push for change?
On Monday Coroner Elisabeth Armitage delivered her long-awaited findings into the fatal shooting of Kumanjayi Walker. So, as Warlpiri Elders call for a "ceasefire" with NT police, what political action will the NT and Federal Government take in wake of the findings? With this year's NAIDOC Week theme being The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, does the community want to see a new generation of First Nations leaders? And has the Minister for Indigenous Australians put truth telling back on the agenda? Globally, Trump's newest tariff turmoil might cast a shadow over the Prime Minister's visit to China - and if the US government comes for the PBS, how will Australia respond to its most powerful ally? And back at home, there's a new report, and plan, to combat anti-Semitism. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Carly Williams, a Quandamooka woman and ABC's National Indigenous correspondent on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Acting NT police commissioner acknowledges racism within force following Kumanjayi Walker coronial findings
The Northern Territory's acting police commissioner has conceded that "all forms of racism" have existed within the force throughout its history, calling it a "confronting" truth "that we must face", following the release of findings from the inquest into Kumanjayi Walker's death. Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family. On Monday, NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage handed down her findings from her inquiry into the police shooting death of the 19-year-old Aboriginal man in Yuendumu in 2019. Former NT police constable Zachary Rolfe, who fired the fatal shot, was acquitted on all charges by a Supreme Court jury in 2022, with the subsequent inquest into Mr Walker's death spanning almost three years. Judge Armitage's recommendations for the NT Police Force included incorporating the shooting into its recruit training "as an example of 'officer-induced jeopardy'" and improving its procedures for addressing complaints about racism and use of force against Aboriginal people. She also recommended the force require all officers to spend at least four months in a remote posting in their first three years on the job, and develop induction packages specific to each community with the assistance of local elders. Acting Commissioner Dole on Tuesday fronted the media for the first time since the findings were handed down. He said police acknowledged the coroner's finding "that all forms of racism have existed within the NT Police Force at various times, and that this was borne out in the evidence received during this inquest". "What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable. "We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms, and making this a safer, fairer organisation for everybody. Acting Commissioner Dole would not be drawn on whether the force would accept Judge Armitage's 18 recommendations related to them, saying her 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," he said. The force's cultural reform command director Leanne Liddle said the coroner's findings — which included racist attitudes expressed by multiple officers, some of whom continue to serve — were "deeply confronting", but were "not new to many Aboriginal people". But Ms Liddle said while there was "still a long way to go", she had seen "meaningful change occur across the organisation" during the past 12 months, and the force was now "on the right path" after developing a "dedicated anti-racism strategy which is now in its final stages". "We are working to rebuild trust, not through words alone, but through sustained partnerships, presence and culturally informed community policing," she said. Ms Liddle said, while she could not disclose the details publicly, there remained ongoing disciplinary issues in the force involving "incidences where we are dealing with racism". "We believe that once we reform the culture of the police force, that it will become far more attractive for Aboriginal people to be the change agents that we need within the North Territory Police Force to move forward," she said. Acting Commissioner Dole said he would honour a commitment by former commissioner Michael Murphy to apologise to the Yuendumu community.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Confronting': NT cops reply to racist finding
WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died. 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. Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage handed down a scathing 600-page report into the death of 19-year old Aboriginal teen Kumanjayi Walker finding racism existed within the NT Police Force. Glen Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia 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.' Acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the coroner's findings accepting racism existed within the NT Police Force at various time and was a confronting truth they must face. Gera Kazakov Credit: News Corp Australia 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. Former NT Police constable Zach Rolfe was acquitted by a jury of murder, manslaughter, and engaging in a violent act causing death in the NT Supreme Court in 2022. Jason Walls Credit: News Corp Australia 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.' Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage recommended the NT Police make public and strengthen its anti-racism strategy in her report into the death of Aboriginal teen Kumanjayi Walker. Glen Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia 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.'
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Coroner finds Kumanjayi Walker's death was 'avoidable'
Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has delivered her findings into the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker during an arrest in Yuendumu in 2019.
