Kumanjayi Walker’s Warlpiri community rejects top cop Michael Murphy’s apology

A senior Elder from the community of the teenager shot dead by former NT Police officer Zach Rolfe has rejected an apology from the top brass, saying ‘they are only sorry their racist culture was exposed’.

Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves arrives at the Alice Springs Local Court in 2022 for the start of an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Jason Walls

Elders from the community of slain Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker have rejected NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s apology, saying police “are only sorry their racist culture was exposed”.

Mr Murphy issued the historic apology at the Garma Festival in East Arnhem Land on Sunday.

In the speech, Mr Murphy promised a separate apology to the people of Yuendumu, where the 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man was shot dead by former constable Zach Rolfe during a bungled arrest in 2019.

Despite Mr Murphy’s promise for a second apology, on Tuesday Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said Mr Murphy’s Garma address “means nothing when he apologises to the wrong mob in Arnhem Land for what they did to Warlpiri people”.

“One minute the police are celebrating (Mr) Rolfe being acquitted,” he said.

“Then, when the public learns that they recruit rogue (applicants) of poor character, they say they’re sorry — but they will do it again and keep repeating the disgraceful acts that come naturally to them.”

Mr Hargraves said while the elders “welcome the Commissioner’s words”, “words are easy, actions are hard” and invited him “to come and sit with us and find the way forward together with actions”.

Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves addresses the media outside the NT Supreme Court after Zach Rolfe was acquitted on all charges over the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“If Commissioner Murphy wants Aboriginal people to believe him, he has to stop talking and listen to what they say about the harm police are still causing,” he said.

“He must accept there is racism in the police force – we have all seen the evidence at Kumanjayi Walker’s inquest.

“What is the solution? How can we change this old relationship between police and Aboriginal people? That is what we have to focus on now.”

Mr Hargraves said if Mr Murphy was serious about wanting partnerships with Aboriginal communities, they should be “between equals who share power, share resources, share respect”, repeating his demands for “karrinjarla muwajarri” or “ceasefire”.

“Napargi napargi, you give, I give, equal,” he said.

“The Commissioner said he will apologise to Yuendumu when Kumanjayi Walker’s inquest is finished, but he can take action before then.

“The police can agree now that they will not carry guns in Yuendumu, they can support our own Law and Justice Group.

“They can use some of the hundreds of millions of dollars the NT government gives them, to fund community-led ideas about working to keep everyone safe and happy.”