Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the name of a Dunghutti man who has passed away.
Dunghutti Elder and advocate Leetona Dungay will hold a rally outside Kempsey Police Station at 12pm, Monday, 29 December, demanding accountability for the death of her son David.
David Dungay Jr was killed in Long Bay Prison Hospital on 29 December 2015 after he was restrained by six prison guards. His last words were "I can't breathe".
In the decade since his death, David's mother Leetona, along with his family, friends and community have been standing against a system that continues to fail Aboriginal people.
"Since my son David Dungay Jr's tragic death ten years ago, my calls for accountability for David, his community's advocacy, our allies' support and everything we have achieved to stop deaths in custody, has been part of David's Lore; we are fighting for justice for David because he isn't here to fight himself," she said.
"He had a right to live."
At the coronial inquest into David's death in 2018 and 2019, Ms Dungay fought for truth and accountability, yet no one involved in the incident at Long Bay Prison Hospital was held responsible.
The National Justice Project has been standing by Ms Dungay for the past ten years and support her fight for justice.
In 2021, Ms Dungay submitted a landmark complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee against Australia seeking justice for her son. She awaits the Committee's decision.
Through her ongoing advocacy, a new $5,000 annual scholarship has been established today in David's honour to support Aboriginal health professionals working in the NSW criminal justice system.
The David Dungay Jr Scholarship will support the education and development of Aboriginal health staff to improve the health outcomes and experiences of Aboriginal people in custody.
Leetona and David Dungay Jr's family have been advocating tirelessly for a decade for systemic change to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody.
On Tuesday the National Justice Project noted that successive Australian governments have failed to implement the findings of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.
"David's death is just one of over 600 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Royal Commission in 1991. These are not numbers. These are people. Sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, our Elders, our babies. Whole futures stolen," Ms Dungay said.
"Being Aboriginal should not be a death sentence; but in so-called Australia, far too often, it is.
"First Nations deaths in custody are at their highest level since records began in 1980. Shame on this country, its governments and its criminal system. We need to see justice for our Mob, and justice means no more deaths in custody."
Rally for truth and accountability 10 years on from the death of David Dungay Jr
Date: Monday, 29 December 2025
Time: 12PM at Kempsey Police Station
