NT ICAC head slams police mock awards as racist

The chief of the Northern Territory’s corruption watchdog has declared mock awards issued within the territory police’s elite police unit ‘are racist towards First Nations people’.

Zachary Rolfe. Picture: Ryan Osland

The chief of the Northern Territory’s corruption watchdog has declared mock awards issued within the territory police’s elite police unit “are racist towards First Nations people”.

The extraordinary statement came after five senior police officers swore in separate affidavits claiming they had “never experienced any racism” and the awards weren’t racist.

The Australian on Tuesday ­revealed the NT ICAC had called on the police to help investigate ­accusations of racism within the force’s elite Territory Response Group unit, citing a lack of resources to conduct its own investigation independently due to inadequate funding.

Former police officer Zachary Rolfe alleged at the inquest for Kumanjayi Walker in February that the TRG unit created an in-house “Coon of the year” award for members who “exhibited the most coon-like ­behaviour”, with one award’s background the Aboriginal flag.

NT ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches said in a rare public statement that he had been briefed on Wednesday morning on the evidence that had been collected, after an investigation was launched following Mr Rolfe’s extraordinary claims.

“That evidence further supports the allegation that, in past years, awards have been issued within the Territory Response Group that are racist towards First Nations people,” he said.

“I have formed that view based upon the material I have been shown and the language used in that material,” he said.

The investigation has also been widened after The Australian reported grievances by current and former officers over the limited scope of the investigation – initially focusing on 2011 to present day – but now expanded to begin in 2006.

Senior sergeant Shaun Gill, who was the officer in charge of the TRG from 2011 to 2017, said in a statutory declaration to the NT coroner: “During my service in the TRG I am not aware of any awards with Indigenous connotations”.

He said the award was for an outstanding lack of excellence and given to the TRG member who “essentially made the biggest mistake of the year”.

The statutory declaration was signed on February 28, before Mr Rolfe’s legal team produced what is purported to be the TRG’s 2013 Nuggadah award, printed on an Aboriginal flag with what appears to be dot painting around the border. It was purportedly awarded to a constable who gave a caution for a rape.

The Australian texted, phoned and left a voice message for Senior Sergeant Gill late on Tuesday.

The current OIC of the TRG, Mark Clemmens, said he had never heard any of the awards being referred to as the “Coon of the year award” until Mr Rolfe’s evidence.

“I would not tolerate such an abhorrent award or the use of such racist language. The TRG is not racist. Systemic racism does not exist in the TRG,” he said in his statement. He could not be reached for comment.

Meacham King, who had been with TRG from 2003 to 2021, said he had not heard of any awards being referred to as the “Coon of the year” award.

“There is no such award and never has been,” he said. “None of the awards have any connotation to race. The awards are not meant to be offensive.”

In a statutory declaration to the NT coroner on February 28, Superintendent Craig Garland said he had been to most of the TRG annual awards parties during three stints at the TRG since 2001.

“I asked myself the question whether I thought the TRG members are racist. I can unequivocally say ‘absolutely not’,” Superintendent Garland said.

Superintendent Garland was aware of the Nuggadah award – he spelled it Nugada in his statutory declaration – and said it was for “outstanding lack of excellence in the area of personal hygiene or feral behaviour”.

Superintendent Garland’s statement to the NT coroner was signed on February 28, three days before Mr Rolfe’s legal team produced what purports to be the 2013 Nuggadah award printed on an Aboriginal flag. Mr Rolfe told the coroner the recipient provided it and would give evidence.

The Australian attempted to contact Superintendent Garland late on Tuesday by text, phone and voice message.

Commissioner Riches was scathing of former and current officers withholding information.

“It is not in the public interest that these issues be drawn out over numerous months, with defensive and combative positions taken by those who have information relevant to the investigation,” he said.

“A current or former police officer who voluntarily provides truthful information to my office relevant to this investigation will not be the subject of an adverse finding under the ICAC Act,” he said.

They would also not be referred to NT Police for disciplinary action, but that his assurances would not be extended to anyone who had conducted “criminal conduct” or was involved in the deletion of documents.

Multiple serving and retired police officers have raised concerns of a cover-up and have refused to make statements.

Commissioner Riches had been repeatedly critical of the funding his department receives, attributing the reason for the joint investigation with NT Police due to not being “resourced to conduct the investigation without NT Police assistance”.

The Australian understands the NT government will allocate a further $500,000 in the upcoming Territory budget to increase Riches’ current budget of $5.03m.