Larrakia Nation has called for investment in prevention and community-led services following a violent incident which lead to the death of a supermarket owner in Nightcliff on Wednesday.
Store owner Linford Feick died after the 71-year-old allegedly confronted a thief and was stabbed at the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer at approximately 5.15pm.
Following the critical indecent, Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the man.
"We acknowledge the pain felt across our community and stand in solidarity with those affected by this heartbreaking loss," a Larrakia Nation statement read.
"Larrakia Nation does not condone criminal behaviour in any form. Those responsible must be held accountable, there is no excuse for violence, and it must be met with clear consequences.
"However, this tragedy again highlights the urgent need for systemic change."
Larrakia Nation said for too long governments have responded to complex social issues with punitive measures while failing to adequately invest in addressing the root causes—poverty, homelessness, intergenerational trauma, and social exclusion.
Following the incident, the peak body for Larrakia people called for greater support to enact preventative and community-led solutions.
They include culturally grounded, long-term investment in youth and family support, access to safe and secure housing, on-Country programs that reconnect young people with culture, identity, and lore and community-led justice approaches that prevent crime before it occurs.
"I have personally written to both the Chief Minister and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in March, seeking their support for a formal initiative that empowers our senior Aboriginal lore men and women to lead culturally appropriate responses to this growing crisis," Larrakia Nation chief executive officer Michael Rotumah said.
"The time for words has passed. We need real investment in our solutions—led by our people, on our terms."
The alleged perpetrator, a teenager who turned 18 just days ago and was on bail for "serious matters", was taken into custody after handing himself in shortly after midnight.
"When this incident occurred and the male offender had left the location, the Northern Territory police surged with all available resources ... into the Darwin community," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst told reporters on Thursday.
"The family of the person was located, and through that ongoing engagement ... that person handed himself into police, which is a good outcome for the community."
The teenager was bailed to a remote community "across the Top End" but did not have an electronic monitoring bracelet.
"One of the charges that will be considered will be in relation to the breach of bail for that particular matter," Mr Wurst said.
Member for Lingiari and Tiwi Islands woman, Marion Scrymgour labelled the incident "devastating".
"The stabbing in Darwin yesterday has shocked us all," Ms Scrymgour said, via social media.
"No one should go to work and not come home. There is absolutely no place for violence in our community."
Larrakia Nation said the organisation would "not allow the actions of a few to define the many".
The overwhelming majority of Aboriginal people live with pride, purpose, and cultural responsibility," Larrakia Nation said.
"It is time for all levels of government to partner with us to build a future based on prevention."
On Thursday afternoon, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro responded to the incident by saying her government will introduce the "toughest bail laws" in Australia.
Speaking after an urgent cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, she told reporters the current laws - known as Declan's law - are modelled off those in NSW and Victoria which "set an overarching primary test for our courts, which is the safety of the community is the number one priority".
"What we want for the Northern Territory is to have the toughest bail laws in this country and we will continue to work tirelessly," Ms Finocchiaro said.
With AAP
