In the wake of landmark coronial findings into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker — which found the officer who shot him is racist and the Northern Territory Police Force exhibits "significant hallmarks of institutional racism" — politicians and human rights groups have weighed in, highlighting broader concerns around policing and the over-incarceration of Indigenous people.
Delivering her findings in the remote community of Yuendumu, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage told a crowd of family members, community residents, and media that Mr Walker's death was "avoidable," and the attitudes of former NT Police officer Zachary Rolfe may have played a role in the fatal shooting.
"That I cannot exclude that possibility is a tragedy for Kumanjayi's family and community, who will always believe that racism played an integral part in his death, and is a taint that may stain the NT Police," she said.
Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, whose electorate of Lingiari includes Yuendumu, told the ABC the case exposed "a very fragile relationship between Aboriginal people and the police".
"There are some very clear lines that have been drawn in the sand here," she said.
"And I think it is on the NT government, that they need to come to the table, work with the community, work with the federal government, to try and get a good pathway through, so we can get resolution to what has been something that's been around for the last five years."
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In her findings Judge Armitage noted Mr Walker had spent considerable time in detention between the ages of 13 and 19, and found that incarceration "neither deterred nor rehabilitated" him.
"I have little doubt that Kumanjayi's behavioural problems as an adolescent and young adult stem from his exposure to alcohol in utero and the trauma he experienced as a young child, largely because of his exposure to violence and alcohol and concomitant neglect," she said.
Pointing to the new CLP government's law-and-order approach, Ms Scrymgour added: "Instead of being tough on crime and the rhetoric we've seen come out of the NT government, what we need to do is to say to the NT, show the community the leadership and that you care."
Coroner Armitage rejected the idea that Mr Rolfe's conduct was isolated, stating it was "not a case of one bad apple," but instead "reflective of a work culture that tolerated racism".
"Having considered all the evidence, including Mr Rolfe's explanations and justifications, I found that Mr Rolfe was racist and that he worked in, and was the beneficiary of, an organisation with hallmarks of institutional racism," she said.
Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe argued the NT Police must reckon with their role in perpetuating racist conduct.
"It's trauma after trauma for our families, with no one ever held accountable. It's time for a complete overhaul of the NT police to once and for all to eradicate the institutional racism within it," she said.
The Australian Human Rights Commission echoed those concerns, saying the 32 recommendations handed down highlight the urgent need for broad reform across policing and justice systems to "fully address ongoing injustices against First Peoples".
Judge Armitage also pointed to Mr Rolfe's pattern of behaviour, saying he had filmed and shared body-worn footage of forceful arrests of Aboriginal men on at least five occasions, forwarding the clips to friends and family because he found them "funny".
"An officer who dehumanises and devalues the lives of arrestees may be less inclined to do everything necessary to avoid injuring them," she said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said the findings underscored the scale of racism in Australia's institutions.
"Racism is running rife in our institutions, and it lies at the heart of these shocking injustices," she said, adding the coroner's recommendations "not only outline who, and what, is to blame, but offer a clear pathway for reform".
Ms Kiss called on the NT Government to reinstate its racism review into policing and urged all Australian governments to establish independent police complaints ombudsmen.
"Like the coroner, I sincerely hope these findings will help prevent further tragedies," she said.
