Robyn Cahill’s comments on NT Coroner’s landmark domestic violence coronial condemned

Australia's peak judicial body has slammed NT Minister Robyn Cahill's ‘extraordinary’ attack on the Territory Coroner, warning it had no place in public debate.

DV Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill and NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage.

The peak body for Australian judiciary has called on the NT Attorney-General to defend the Territory Coroner against personal attack, as tension between CLP politicians and segments of the legal sector continues to build.

Domestic Violence Minister Robyn Cahill was accused of a “profound violation” of democratic principles, undermining the judicial independence and the separation of powers in her response to the recommendations of Australia’s largest ever domestic violence coronial.

NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage spent six months investigating the domestic violence killings of Kumarn Rubuntja, Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk and Miss Yunupingu – four of the at least 83 Aboriginal women killed by domestic violence in the NT since 2000.

At the conclusion of the inquest in November Ms Armitage said her recommendations were not radical but a “sensible” and “practicable” road map to address the Territory’s domestic violence crisis.

On Tuesday Ms Cahill told NT parliament Ms Armitage’s approach lacked “bravery” and “humility”, and that the 35 recommendations “failed dismally to hit the mark”.

The government accepted 21 of the recommendations, 11 were accepted in principle, while three were rejected.

Coroner Elisabeth Armitage spent six months investigating the domestic violence killings of Kumarn Rubuntja, Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk and Miss Yunupingu. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Australian Judicial Officers Association described Ms Cahill’s comments as “extraordinary”, and said there was “no place for such personal attacks on judicial officers in our public debate”.

“Public discussion and debate about the work of the courts is an essential part of our democracy,” AJOA president Steven Moore said.

“But it must not undermine judicial independence and the vital work of the courts.

“In saying that the Coroner lacked ‘humility’ and ‘bravery’, and that she was ‘more focused on the reveal rather than the result’, the Minister unfairly belittled the integrity and professionalism of the Coroner in important proceedings of great public interest.”

Both the Criminal Lawyers Association NT (CLANT) and the Northern Territory Bar Association (NTBA) have also condemned Ms Cahill’s statements as an attempt to undermine the independent judicial officer.

Northern Territory Bar Association President Mary Chalmers SC. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NTBA President Mary Chalmers said it was a “bizarre and unwarranted attack” that “violates the rule of law and ultimately does nothing to protect Territorians from domestic and family violence”.

“All Territorians want a strong and independent coroner who will not hesitate to call out government or department failings where they are found to have contributed to the death of a loved one,” Ms Chalmers said.

“Such attacks by government ministers necessarily impact a coroner’s ability to do their job without fear or favour and are destructive of public confidence.”

Criminal Lawyers Association NT (CLANT) president Beth Wild. Pic: LinkedIn.

CLANT President Beth Wild said the most recent criticism was part of a pattern of “disrespect from government leaders towards the judiciary” that “should alarm every Territorian”.

The CLP government has clashed with sections of the judiciary in recent months as pressures on the courts continue to mount amid the delivery of hard-line law and order policies.

The Chief Minister further criticised Ms Armitage for how long the Kumanjayi Walker Inquest “dragged on”, downplayed the relevance of its recommendations, and foreshadowed legislative changes to curtail the Coroner’s powers after revelations the inquest cost more than $7m.

NT Labor accused the CLP of “a desperate attempt to deflect from its own failings”.

“The Coroner’s job is to expose systemic issues and recommend change. That’s uncomfortable for governments, especially one that has failed to deliver, but it’s no excuse to undermine the integrity of her work or question her independence,” Shadow Attorney-General Chansey Paech said.

DV Minister Robyn Cahill doubled down on her right to criticise the recommendations. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Cahill doubled down on her right to criticise the domestic violence inquest recommendations, which she said were published with the intent of fostering debate.

“If you put something into the public arena and then you ask for comment to be made on it, you can’t just expect we’ll agree with everything you said,” she said.

Ms Cahill said the coronial process was “absolutely critical”, and praised the “brilliant” contents of the inquest report.

“What I’ve been disappointed (with) is that the recommendations don’t actually reflect the evidence that’s in that report,” she said.

“For example, (Coroner Armitage) made it very clear that (Aboriginal) culture has now been weaponised as a coercive control measure … she called it out (in the report), but then she didn’t include it in the recommendations – and it would have been brave to do that.”

Originally published as Robyn Cahill’s comments on NT Coroner’s landmark domestic violence coronial condemned