Police Commissioner to implement anti-racism strategy in NT

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has made a lengthy apology to Aboriginal people of the territory, six months after racism inside the force was exposed.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, embracing Djalinda Ulamari, delivered an apology to First Nations people at Garma. Picture: Nina Franova/YYF

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has made a lengthy apology to Aboriginal people of the territory, six months after racism inside the force was exposed at the inquest of Yuendumu teen Kumamjayi Walker.

Mr Murphy and Leanne Liddle, the first Aboriginal police officer in South Australia, will now implement an anti-racism strategy in the NT police and recruit heavily from Aboriginal communities until one in three NT officers is ­Indigenous.

Former police officer Zachary Rolfe, who was acquitted on all charges after shooting Walker dead while trying to arrest him in 2019, admitted at the inquest he had used the word “coon” in text messages and that said that racism in the NT police had “rubbed off on me”.

Mr Rolfe then revealed the NT police force’s most elite unit had a tradition of handing out racist awards at an annual awards night. This included racist imagery and phrases such as “for the most COON like BBQ ever!!!”

On Saturday, senior Yolgnu woman Djalinda Ulamari introduced Mr Murphy to the crowd at the Garma Festival and said: “He’s come to apologise for the wrongs and what they have done.

“… He’s here to say how sorry they are and what we can do to find a way to move forward together.”

Former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe after day one of him giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Liam Mendes/The Australian

Mr Murphy was flanked by some of his most senior colleagues including Ms Liddle, former director of the NT’s Aboriginal Justice Agreement and a Central Arrernte woman.

“I am deeply sorry to all Aboriginal Territorians for the past harms and the injustices caused by members of the Northern Territory Police,” he said. “Throughout our 154 years of policing in the Northern Territory, we have aimed to work effectively with Aboriginal people and deliver just outcomes.

“However, we acknowledge that we have made mistakes.

“I commit the NT Police service to do the hard work to transform our relationship with Aboriginal Territorians for a safer community for all.”

Police commissioners in Victoria and Western Australia have also apologised to Aboriginal people, in 2023 and 2018 respectively.

Mr Murphy described how NT Police took children from their families and the impact this had on communities for ­generations.

He said NT Police were required by the earliest legislation to protect all Territorians, “but they did not fulfil this responsibility”. Instead, he said, they felt duty-bound to protect settlers and their property when Aboriginal people resisted incursions.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy delivering an apology to First Nations people at Garma. Picture: Teagan Glenane/YYF

“Some members of the police force may lack awareness of the profound ongoing intergenerational impacts of this history,” he said. “This history and more recent events highlight two things: One, police are routinely tasked with enforcing policies, laws and regulations … that are often influenced by media coverage of crime, victims and community safety, regardless of the data, evidence and expert advice; and (two) at times, police officers have abused their powers or fall short in their duty of care towards Aboriginal offenders, witnesses and victims of crime.”