Northern Territory Government departments spent more than $7 million during the coronial inquest into the police shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker.

Data obtained by Sky News and revealed through the NT Parliament's Budget Estimates committee show the Coroner's Office spent over $1.9 million, while NT Police spent nearly $5.5 million on the inquest. Costs incurred by the NT Department of Health were not included and are expected to increase the total further.

Last week, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage concluded Australia's longest-running coronial inquest by finding former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe to be racist and the NT Police Force exhibited "significant hallmarks of institutional racism".

Mr Walker, a Warlpiri-Luritja man, was shot three times by Mr Rolfe during a failed arrest in Yuendumu in 2019. Mr Rolfe was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in 2022.

Prominent lawyers involved included Peggy Dwyer SC, assisting the Coroner, and Police barrister Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC.

In her findings, Judge Armitage found Mr Walker's death was preventable and criticised the NT Police for their actions during the attempted arrest.

"This was a case of officer-induced jeopardy," she said, describing it as a scenario where "officers needlessly put themselves in danger, making themselves and others vulnerable and creating a situation that justifies the use of deadly force".

She said there was evidence of "clearly racist comments made by Mr Rolfe, and between Mr Rolfe and his superiors".

"His racist messages were not mere aberrations. They were at least in part reflective of a work culture that tolerated racism," Judge Armitage said.

"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."

Originally scheduled to last three months, the inquest began in September 2022 and sat for 71 days before findings were delivered in Yuendumu. It faced multiple delays, including a legal application by Mr Rolfe to have the Coroner recuse herself over an alleged apprehension of bias following a two-day visit to Yuendumu — a request that was ultimately denied.

Mr Rolfe did not give evidence until February 2024.

The final findings were also delayed by a month to allow the Yuendumu community to observe sorry business after the death in custody of 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White in May.

Community members have expressed support for the Coroner's conclusions concerning racism.

"To hear the Coroner identify structural and entrenched racism in the NT Police has made us feel validated. Our family and community have always felt that racism killed Kumanjayi, Mr Walker's cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, said.

Senior Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, who is Mr White's grandfather, said the time for words had passed.

"The Coroner talked about racism in the Northern Territory, she has told the truth," he said.

"We have come so close to justice so many times, only to have people in our family and community killed. The NT Police continue to harm our community, we need a ceasefire."

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has faced backlash for comments downplaying aspects of the findings. This week, she said many of the Coroner's 32 recommendations occurred "six years after the fact" and claimed the process "certainly went on far longer than anyone expected or liked".

She also argued that "much has changed" since Mr Walker's death, and said some recommendations were "much less relevant than others".