Latest news with #IndigenousAustralians
7NEWS
21 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Police reject independent probe into death in custody of Indigenous man with disability at Cole in Alice Springs
Calls for an independent probe into a young man's death in custody have been rejected by police after an emotional vigil. Family and supporters shed tears and demanded justice when they gathered in Alice Springs CBD on Friday to remember the mentally disabled 24-year-old. The vigil was held at the Coles supermarket where the young man from the small desert town of Yuendumu was restrained by two police officers. 'We want justice,' the man's grandfather, Yuendumu elder and Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves told the packed gathering. The young man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on a National Disability Insurance Scheme plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. A police investigation has been launched after the man fell unconscious while restrained on Tuesday and died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy believes an independent death in custody probe may be warranted. She said wounds had been reopened for the people of Yuendumu by the latest incident after 'many traumas'. 'In the interest of having some separation, calls for an independent investigation may be warranted. It may be important to do that, given that there is such tension,' Senator McCarthy told ABC. 'Tragic death' Advocates such as Amnesty International have also backed an independent investigation to 'ensure impartiality and to maintain public confidence in the process'. But NT Police on Friday 'respectfully' rejected the suggestion, saying their investigation would operate under strict protocols with full transparency and be independently reviewed by the coroner. 'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the tragic death of a 24-year-old man in Alice Springs on Tuesday,' Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said in a statement. 'On behalf of NT police, I extend sincere condolences to his family, friends and community. 'I understand the high level of public interest in this matter. However, I respectfully reject calls for the investigation to be handed to an external body.' The acting commissioner said he had spoken with Senator McCarthy about her suggestion and conveyed his confidence in the 'robust and well-established' system of oversight in place. 'I also expressed my full confidence in our detectives and the independent processes already in place within the NT Police Force,' he said. 'We ask the community to allow the investigation to take its course. We are committed to a full and fair examination of the facts.' The incident has sparked widespread anger, with hundreds attending Friday's vigil. Family and supporters demanded answers during speeches, asking witnesses to come forward. They then entered the Coles supermarket wearing ceremonial paint and carrying branches. 'Further investigation' Police late on Thursday alleged the 24-year-old man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident and said they were investigating. They also revealed an autopsy had found the man's death was 'undetermined'. The preliminary result would require 'further investigation to provide any substantive cause of death', NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said in a statement. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest. Rolfe was in 2022 found not guilty of all charges over the death. 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 case.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- 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.
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
First Nations leaders hope Labor will use big majority to pursue national truth telling
Prominent Indigenous Australians are hopeful the federal government will use its significant majority in parliament to progress a national truth telling process. After declaring he would implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full — which includes establishing a Makarrata Commission to oversee truth telling — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed down from the commitment, after the decisive rejection of a Voice to Parliament. But this week, Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy indicated she was still open to the concept, following a call from the so-called father of reconciliation, Pat Dodson. "We have an opportunity now to have a look, with our new parliament, with our second term of government, to see what we can do moving forward," Minister McCarthy said. "One of the things the prime minister and I have said with regards to the Uluru Statement from the Heart was that we supported the three principles: voice, treaty, truth, and we've never shied away from that." While she acknowledged truth telling can happen in various ways — such as at schools — she was "ready to listen to what possibilities there could be in going forward." First Nations leader and prominent Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo said that was a positive sign. Mr Mayo partly blamed the prime minister's decision to retreat on Makarrata on the opposition. "It was under some duress from an opposition party that were invigorated somewhat from their successful nastiness during the referendum campaign and…were feral anytime anything positive in Indigenous affairs was mentioned," he said. He also urged Labor to be "courageous" after its resounding win. "That majority was somewhat a repudiation on the Coalition's punching down on Indigenous Australians throughout their election campaign," he said. Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle, who is now the Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister, has dismissed the idea the vote was a rejection by a large part of the electorate of so-called culture war issues. "I think most of the Australian public would think that it was pretty silly to suggest that it is a single issue that has resulted in the outcome that we've seen, " she told the ABC earlier this month. Mr Mayo also argued that the federal government should be encouraged by the Liberal government in Tasmania promising to set up truth telling commissioners. Former Labor senator Pat Dodson said he too felt hopeful that Labor seemed open to a national truth telling process. "I'm encouraged by the fact that the commitment that the Labor Party gave some time back, before this election, is still on the agenda," he said. "Obviously it's got to be committed to and then they've got to set up a process to enact it. "But it's a great thing because we've got to start listening to the different stories," he said. Mr Dodson said there were leaders across the country willing to be involved. "I'd encourage the minister to reach out to all these people and bring them together and start to map out a course in this term so that we can get on with it."
West Australian
a day ago
- 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.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
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.
