Australia is undergoing a period of "soul searching" following the coroner's findings into the fatal police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker, the United Nations says, calling for "comprehensive reforms".
Mr Walker, a Warlpiri-Luritja man, was shot three times by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a failed arrest attempt in Yuendumu, 300 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs. Mr Rolfe was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in March 2022 following a high-profile Supreme Court trial.
Last week, Judge Elisabeth Armitage delivered her findings from Australia's longest-running coronial inquest, ruling Mr Walker's death was "avoidable". She criticised Mr Rolfe's conduct and described the NT Police Force as exhibiting "hallmarks of institutional racism".
UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the findings "uncovers disturbing allegations of institutional racism in Northern Territory policing, and use of excessive force".
"Findings by coroner reinforce urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address injustice suffered by First Nations people," Mr Türk wrote on social media.
#Australia: Coroner's inquiry into police shooting death of teenager Kumanjayi Walker uncovers disturbing allegations of institutional racism in Northern Territory policing, & use of excessive force. Findings by coroner reinforce urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address…
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) July 11, 2025
In her report, Judge Armitage called Mr Rolfe a "racist" and said whilst it wasn't possible to "say with certainty" that his attitudes were a "contributing cause" of the shooting, she couldn't rule it out.
"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.
"Mr Rolfe was racist, and he worked in and benefited from an organisation with the hallmarks of institutional racism."
Mr Rolfe has denied the claims of racism and misconduct and is considering appealing the findings in the NT Supreme Court.
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Judge Armitage issued 32 recommendations, including measures to increase community control in remote areas. However, she did not recommend establishing an independent police oversight body — a key demand of the Walker family and Aboriginal justice advocates.
"Without this accountability, our community will continue to be failed, the NT Police will continue their unchecked, excessive use of force and our people will continue to die at their hands," the Walker family said in a statement. "For this we are disappointed."
Maggie Munn, First Nations Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, said "racism will remain unchecked within institutions like the NT Police and Aboriginal deaths in custody will continue" if the NT Government allows police to act with "impunity".
"Governments must end the status quo of police investigating themselves and dodging accountability for their actions," they said.
In May, another Warlpiri man, 24-year-old Kumanjayi White — who had links to the Yuendumu community — died in Mparntwe/Alice Springs after being restrained by two plain-clothed NT Police officers. He had been under state guardianship and living in supported accommodation.
Police have ruled out an independent investigation, though inquiries are ongoing.
UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva that the inquest should prompt authorities to "take measures" and "lead to quite a bit of soul-searching".
She said Australian politicians must consider whether "further independent oversight" is needed and called for "awareness-raising among police officers of the dangers of profiling, the dangers of unconscious bias", according to AFP.
Mr Walker is one of 598 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody.
No one has ever been held criminally responsible for any of these deaths.
