Walker inquest: NAAJA questions why Coroner didn’t recommend independent police body

Among the 32 recommendations made in the Walker inquest, the Territory’s Aboriginal-led legal service is left ‘disappointed’ the Coroner did not recommend one thing. Find out what.

NAAJA office in Darwin. Picture: File

The Territory’s Aboriginal-led legal service say the Coroner has not gone far enough in her recommendations when she delivered her findings in a mammoth inquest into the death of a 19-year-old Warlpiri Luritja man.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), in a media release, said the organisation is “disappointed” Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has not recommended “an independent oversight body” to police the NT Police and “drive structural change in the police force”.

NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage arrives in Yuendumu to deliver the findings into the Kumanjayi Walker inquest, July 7, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The independent body would have delivered “true accountability and transparency,” the agency said.

The legal service welcomed many of the recommendations made, and said “in the absence of active steps to act on these recommendations, Aboriginal people will continue to die in custody, on their country”.

This masthead sent questions to Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro asking if the CLP government would act upon all 32 recommendations made by the Coroner.

A CLP government spokesperson said the inquest had taken “a significant toll” on the Territory police force and community, and welcomed the “conclusion of this lengthy process”.

“The Government will now take the time to consider the findings and recommendations, noting that much has changed over the last six years,” they said.

Yuendumu. Picture: File

The Coroner delivered her findings into the three-year long inquest in Yuendumu on Monday.

The findings are spread over 12 chapters in a 683-page document.

She made 32 recommendations, some of which are directed at NT Heath, others of which are directed at NT Police.

Ms Armitage, over a number of recommendations, recommended police amend their cultural complaints process, ensure an “anti-racism strategy is developed”, ensure a clear general order clearly outlines concurrent police and coronial death in custody investigations, and more.

NAAJA chairperson Theresa Roe said the organisation welcomed the Coroner’s findings and how she brought to light “what led to the tragic events of 2019”.

The Coroner determined the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was “avoidable” and former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe, who shot the man three times, was “racist”.

In 2022, Mr Rolfe was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury of a murder charge, and Ms Armitage did not make findings which went against the jury verdict.

“We stand with Kumanjayi Walker’s family, community, and Yuendumu in their fight for truth and justice, and support the family’s calls for police accountability. Now is the time to stop, talk and focus on a better way forward,” Ms Roe said.