A long-promised review into racism within the Northern Territory Police Force has been scrapped, Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby has confirmed — even as the force continues to face serious allegations of racism from Aboriginal communities.
The review was part of the bipartisan Aboriginal Justice Agreement, established in 2021, and further reinforced during the coronial inquest into the police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker, where it was stated every government agency would be subject to review.
However, at budget estimates on Monday night, Ms Boothby revealed the $300,000 allocated for the racism review had been redirected to Legal Aid NT.
Repeatedly questioned by Arrernte and Gurindji man and Labor MLC Chansey Paech about the funding, she said the redirection was necessary to ensure Legal Aid could remain operational amid a major court backlog.
She argued the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency [NAAJA] was "having problems and could not take on new clients" last year, which meant Legal Aid needed more funding.
"Under my portfolio I can confirm that the $300,000 that was committed by the previous government to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to do a review into police was not able to be given to them and it has been given to Legal Aid to ensure that they could continue their delivery of service because we had this huge court backlog. We need defendants and offenders to be represented by legal services," Ms Boothby said.
She added that a review into racism in the police force is instead "being led by Leanne Liddle".
Ms Liddle, an Arrernte woman and South Australia's first Aboriginal police officer, was appointed to develop an internal anti-racism strategy within the NTPF following an apology last year from then-Commissioner Michael Murphy to Aboriginal Territorians for "the past harms and the injustices caused by members of the Northern Territory Police".
This prompted Mr Paech to state: "You are suggesting now that police are reviewing themselves about racism in the police force."
After a back and forth, Ms Boothby eventually responded: "To my knowledge, there is an anti-racism strategy that police are working on."
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The issue of police investigating themselves has become a flashpoint, which has only exacerbated following the recent deaths in custody of 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White — who had a disability and was living in supported accommodation — and 68-year-old Wadeye Elder, known as TN.
Mr White's death has led to nationwide protests and renewed calls for an independent investigation from Mr White's family, Indigenous leaders, and politicians including Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and Labor MP Marion Scrymgour.
These calls have been rejected by the NT Chief Minister and NT Police, who argue the investigation is being conducted "under strict protocols and with full transparency".
Despite this, police have refused to stand down or name the officers involved. Media reports have widely identified one officer as Steven Haig, an NT Police prosecutor in Alice Springs, who has previously been accused of aggression towards Indigenous people.
Allegations of racism, over-policing and violence within the NTPF have long persisted and were central to the coronial inquest into Mr Walker's death. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage described some of the testimony as "deeply disturbing," including accounts of racist behaviour within the force.
Mr Walker's cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, told National Indigenous Times last year that racism within the NT Police is long-standing and well-known in the community.
"For us, it has been something that has existed forever," she said.
"I think when you work within the police force, it's hard for us to believe that anybody within the police force doesn't know that racism exists, because it comes across so obviously to us, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
A 2024 investigation by the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, prompted by the inquest revelations — including evidence of "racist awards" — found evidence of historical racism, but none since 2015.
This conclusion, criticised by legal representatives of three Aboriginal officers who have filed a human rights complaint, was welcomed by the Chief Minister.
