Disappointed, but not surprised: Community reacts to Rolfe’s ‘explosive’ testimony
Many have been shocked to hear Zach Rolfe’s allegations of racism in the NT Police force, but some Territorians say ‘it’s no surprise’. Read their reactions.
Police & Courts
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Zach Rolfe’s claims of widespread racism in the NT Police force have been labelled “explosive” and “shocking”, dominating national headlines as the inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death continued in Alice Springs this week.
For some Territorians, however, the damning allegations were entirely expected.
“I don’t think any community member will hear this with any shock or surprise,” Chay Brown said.
The Alice Springs based domestic violence advocate and researcher said a shift in police culture was imperative for public safety, calling on recently installed Commissioner Michael Murphy to lead the change.
“If police do not respect our community – if they have racist views, or homophobic views, or sexist views – how are they supposed to keep that community safe?,” Dr Brown said.
“If racism is tolerated and condoned, which is what Rolfe’s allegations are saying, it is normalised. That will impact community safety, but it will also impact police – a lot of our police are Aboriginal, a lot are from different backgrounds, that’s not a safe workplace for them.”
Dr Brown said she knew many Aboriginal women who’d had positive experiences with the force, but she wanted “to see ownership that there’s a problem”.
On Tuesday Commissioner Murphy announced an investigation into Mr Rolfe’s allegations.
Mr Rolfe, a former constable, told the inquest “racist language is used everywhere”, including by high-ranking officers, and claimed that the elite Territory Response Group handed out “c – n of the year awards” to members.
Arrernte and Warlpiri Elder and NT Greens candidate for Araluen Peltherre Chris Tomlins said it was a “sad but overdue admission from members of NT Police”.
“Racism is everywhere and the only way we can start to address it and heal together is by coming together and engaging in truth-telling,” he said.
“This behaviour and culture is only going to get worse unless we name it, talk about it and work together.
“We need the rest of the community to understand what intergenerational trauma is – then maybe they will start to work with us, not against us.”
Emma King, an 18-year-old Gurindji woman and daughter of prominent Territorian Charlie King AM, welcomed the investigation but said what mattered was “the way we react to the findings”.
“It is really disappointing when we can’t acknowledge the problem in the first place, because we can’t run the race if we can’t even see the starting line.
“How can we have conversations around crime, about strategising to extirpate crime, when we can’t even be honest with one another, if we can’t acknowledge that systemic racism is absolutely rife within Australia.
“Aboriginal people have been making these sorts of allegations in regards to racism from the police force for a very, very long time.
“It’s confusing to me that we are now up in arms when it is (alleged) by a white, former police officer … that’s when we begin to think it’s real.”
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said she would wait for the inquest to wrap up before commenting.
“We have some amazing police officers who work in very, very difficult situations,” she said.
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