The Central Land Council is urging the federal government to withhold funding from the Northern Territory government until it establishes an independent police conduct commission to investigate the recent death in custody of Kumanjayi White.
Mr White, a 24-year-old Warlpiri man with ties to the Yuendumu community, was under state guardianship and living in supported accommodation at the time of his death. He died after being restrained by two plain-clothed NT Police officers following an alleged altercation with a security guard at a Coles supermarket.
On Wednesday, the CLC called for an inquiry led by the NT Coroner to be completed within 12 months. CLC Chair Warren Williams said the Northern Territory "lacks a body to investigate police misconduct and has failed to overhaul the culture of its police force".
"We don't trust this government and its police force to keep us safe," Mr Williams said, accusing the NT government of breaking multiple promises to Aboriginal communities since winning office in August last year.
"NT police talk of reform and anti-racism strategies is just that — talk. It's time for the federal government to hold the NT accountable and force the change we so desperately need."
His concerns echoed those of Mr White's grandfather, Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, who told the ABC on Tuesday the family was "very, very angry" with the police response.
"When we met at the police station with the coroner and with the commissioner [it was] the same story that we hear every day every time, that this has happened and the police did their job," he said.
"We are sick of it and we are losing lots of our loved ones … we want to get the police to be accountable because it just keeps going."
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Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole has defended the internal investigation, saying an external inquiry could compromise "further action being taken". However, similar investigations in other states are routinely handled by oversight bodies like the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission in NSW.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who also serves as Police Minister, has also categorically ruled out an independent inquiry. She described it as "entirely appropriate" for police to investigate themselves and later called Senator Malarndirri McCarthy's push for an external probe "really unhelpful".
On Tuesday, National Indigenous Times reported none of the officers allegedly involved in Mr White's arrest have been stood down — more than a week after his death in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
Ms Finocchiaro has not responded to questions from National Indigenous Times about whether the officers involved should remain on duty.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, NT Police announced the coronial investigation into Mr White's death will be "paused" while a criminal investigation is underway.
Despite repeated calls from the family, legal groups, and community advocates, NT Police have said CCTV footage of Mr White's arrest will not be released until investigations conclude — despite their stated commitment to transparency.
It is understood NT Police have also yet to formally reply to a request by a lawyer from the National Justice Project, chief executive George Newhouse.
Last week, Mr Newhouse, who is representing the family of Mr White, issued four requests on half of the family.
They include the release of CCTV footage inside Coles to the family; for an independent body to take over the investigation; for police to stop making statements that "speculate on the cause of death or denigrate the character"; and for the NT Police to issue a correction and retraction around previous statements made about Mr White.
Mr Newhouse wrote to the Acting Commissioner arguing comments already made by the police, where they allege Mr White's criminality, risk "prejudicing public understanding and [causing] significant and unnecessary distress to the family".
"Furthermore, where the agency commenting is the very institution whose actions are under scrutiny and who are investigating themselves, such statements raise legitimate concerns about institutional bias and lack of procedural fairness."
Mr Newhouse said NT Police haven't addressed these concerns in "any meaningful way," according to NT News.
Mr Williams, who is Mr White's uncle and currently attending sorry business in Yuendumu, said the lack of independent oversight only deepened the "desolation and sorrow gripping his community".
"My heart goes out to my community and all the good people who gathered in sorrow and solidarity at vigils in Alice Springs and Sydney," he said.
"But let me be clear: only money will force the NT government to act. Our lives are worth less than a chocolate bar to those in power and money is the only language they understand."
Mr Williams also thanked Minister McCarthy for her support, saying she "understands my community needs confidence in the police and that trust has been eroded".
While the federal government has not indicated it will act on the CLC's request, it is understood that withholding funds is seen as unlikely due to potential disruption to NT services.
