Latest news with #Hargraves
The Advertiser
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Australia due for 'massive reckoning' with its history
Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
Sydney Morning Herald
30-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's gotta stop': Mourners' plea at vigil for Indigenous man who died in custody
Hundreds of mourners gathered for an emotional vigil at the Alice Springs supermarket where a young man died while in custody, as the Northern Territory Police rejected calls for an external investigation into the incident. Warlpiri elders have called for witnesses to Tuesday's tragedy to come forward and help understand what led to the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White – named in this masthead with the family's permission – who first had an altercation with a security guard before being restrained by two police officers. Ned Hargraves, a Warlpiri elder, called the vigil for his grandson at the Coles supermarket from noon on Friday, leading to an outpouring of grief and anger among the mourners. 'Every day our black fellas, yapa, getting stopped,' Hargraves told the vigil. 'It's gotta stop. We respect you – how about us? Respect us. 'We were meant to be working together, but we're not.' Hargraves thanked the community for their support and said he hoped it wouldn't happen again. 'Hear our words,' he said. 'Hear us, this cannot keep going.' Messages and tributes of bouquets and gum leaves were left at the front of the store where mourners comforted each other and wailed with grief.
The Age
30-05-2025
- The Age
‘It's gotta stop': Mourners' plea at vigil for Indigenous man who died in custody
Hundreds of mourners gathered for an emotional vigil at the Alice Springs supermarket where a young man died while in custody, as the Northern Territory Police rejected calls for an external investigation into the incident. Warlpiri elders have called for witnesses to Tuesday's tragedy to come forward and help understand what led to the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White – named in this masthead with the family's permission – who first had an altercation with a security guard before being restrained by two police officers. Ned Hargraves, a Warlpiri elder, called the vigil for his grandson at the Coles supermarket from noon on Friday, leading to an outpouring of grief and anger among the mourners. 'Every day our black fellas, yapa, getting stopped,' Hargraves told the vigil. 'It's gotta stop. We respect you – how about us? Respect us. 'We were meant to be working together, but we're not.' Hargraves thanked the community for their support and said he hoped it wouldn't happen again. 'Hear our words,' he said. 'Hear us, this cannot keep going.' Messages and tributes of bouquets and gum leaves were left at the front of the store where mourners comforted each other and wailed with grief.
The Advertiser
29-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Second death in custody shatters tiny outback community
An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system. Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious. The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation. The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident. The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said. The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case. Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened. Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much". He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored. In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said. A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said. NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update. "Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system. Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious. The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation. The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident. The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said. The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case. Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened. Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much". He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored. In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said. A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said. NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update. "Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system. Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious. The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation. The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident. The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said. The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case. Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened. Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much". He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored. In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said. A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said. NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update. "Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system. Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious. The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation. The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident. The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said. The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case. Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened. Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much". He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored. In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said. A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said. NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update. "Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
West Australian
29-05-2025
- West Australian
Second death in custody shatters tiny outback community
An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system. Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious. The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation. The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident. The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said. The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022. The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case. Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened. Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much". He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored. In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said. A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said. NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update. "Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
