Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has labelled calls by Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy for an independent investigation into the death in custody of 24-year-old disabled Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White as "uneducated".
Mr White, who was under state guardianship and reportedly living in supported accommodation, died last week after being restrained by two plain-clothed officers following an alleged altercation with a security guard.
Minister McCarthy said last week that an independent investigation "may be warranted," given the ongoing trauma experienced by the Yuendumu community. She added it "may be an opportune time to have something different, to provide that separation and clarity".
NT Police rejected those calls.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Finocchiaro categorically ruled out an independent inquiry and said it was "entirely appropriate" for police to investigate themselves, describing it as the same process followed in all jurisdictions in Australia for a death in custody.
"People can have full confidence in the Northern Territory Police Force to do their job, which is investigate matters… this now needs to take its course, and I urge everyone to respect the process," she told ABC Radio Darwin.
Human rights, Indigenous and legal organisations have long criticised internal police investigations, warning of inherent bias.
Asked to respond to comments made by Senator McCarthy — a widely respected Aboriginal woman from the NT — Ms Finocchiaro said she had spoken with the Minister about her comments, which she disparaged.
"It's really unhelpful to have an uneducated conversation about it," she said.
"If she wants to support the people of Yuendumu and people concerned about this, then the best thing she can do is use her powerful voice to call for calm and confidence in the NT Police Force."
Senator McCarthy — who, along with the Albanese government, has faced sustained attacks from the CLP in recent months — was contacted for comment.
NT advocacy group Justice not Jails said on Monday the NT Police's "repeated use of internal investigations, despite long-standing and well-documented patterns of racial discrimination, is not transparent nor trustworthy".
Warlpiri Elder and grandfather of Kumanjayi White, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, told the ABC on Tuesday: "I'll tell you strongly what I believe, we do not trust police. We do not trust them."
He said the family had "no faith" in a police investigation and reiterated calls for the release of CCTV footage of the incident.
Mr Walker's cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, said she is "heartbroken" and "disgusted" by the "inhumane and evil" treatment of Mr White.
"I can't believe this has happened to another young Warlpiri man," she said in a statement.
"We support the families' call for an independent investigation, for the footage to be released to the family immediately, and for the police to stop publicly denigrating Kumanjayi White."
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Senator Lidia Thorpe has called on Minister McCarthy to reaffirm her support for an independent investigation, arguing "it is her responsibility to intervene and push back".
She also called the police's handling of the case "disrespectful and predictable," accusing them of "spinning a narrative that blames Kumanjayi while refusing to release the footage that could help the family better understand his death".
Witnesses say they saw an officer with their knee on the back of Mr White's head, while others told National Indigenous Times that he was allegedly put in a "headlock" by a security guard.
One of the individuals reportedly involved in the arrest is Police Prosecutor Steven Haig. NT Police have not responded to questions about whether he will remain in his role while under investigation.
On Monday, National Indigenous Times joined a growing list of organisations urging an independent inquiry, stating the principle of open justice — that justice must not only be done, but seen to be done — is essential.
Earlier this week, Ms Finocchiaro said she had attempted to contact the family but had not been successful. She also said she would not be visiting Yuendumu, stating she would not be "parachuting into any community like previous politicians".
She declined to directly respond to questions from National Indigenous Times about why she had visited the funeral of Linford Feick — the victim of an alleged stabbing last month — but had not engaged with Mr White's family.
Instead, she said her government "will not politicise tragedy or interfere with coronial processes".
Asked whether she was avoiding First Nations communities angry about police conduct, the Chief Minister said her government regularly engages with Indigenous leaders and communities to "listen to their concerns and work through real solutions".
"As a government, our responsibility is to support due process, not interfere in it. The best way to ensure accountability and fairness is to allow investigations and coronial processes to unfold without disruption," she said.
