No Justice in Yuendumu Until Lives Are Spared

The remote community of Yuendumu, Northern Territory (NT), remains gripped by grief and frustration as deaths in custody continue to plague its people. Despite coronial findings exposing systemic issues, including racism within the NT Police, the community’s calls for reform and self-determination remain largely unanswered. This article explores the ongoing struggle for justice, the impact of recent tragedies, and the urgent need for accountability and community-led solutions.

In 2019, the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker by Constable Zachary Rolfe shook Yuendumu, a town of about 800 residents, 300 kilometers northwest of Alice Springs. A recent coronial inquest, led by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage, found Rolfe’s actions were influenced by racist attitudes and an attraction to “high-adrenaline policing.” The inquest’s 683-page report, delivered in July 2025, deemed Walker’s death “avoidable” and highlighted systemic racism within the NT Police. Yet, the community’s plea for police to stop carrying firearms in Yuendumu and for stronger accountability measures has seen little progress, leaving residents like Ned Hargraves, a Warlpiri elder, questioning when justice will come. “We were coming that close to end it,” Hargraves told The Guardian, “but again, something happens. Another one gets killed.”

The pain deepened with the 2025 death of Kumanjayi White, another young Warlpiri man, in police custody in Alice Springs. His grandfather, Ned Hargraves, called for “accountability, justice, and self-determination,” emphasizing the community’s devastation. The Northern Territory’s (NT) tough on crime policies under the Country Liberal Party (CLP) have been criticized for exacerbating tensions, with funding cuts to Aboriginal led programs like the Kurdiji Wita Yuendumu Cultural Authority. Warlpiri elder Robin Japanagka Granites led a ceremony at the site of White’s death, symbolizing the community’s resolve to seek change.

Yuendumu’s residents demand more than apologies, they want systemic reform. Coroner Armitage’s 32 recommendations, including mutual respect agreements on police firearm use and enhanced youth services, offer a path forward. However, the CLP’s decision to strip funding from community led justice initiatives has drawn ire, with critics arguing it fuels the cycle of tragedy. True justice for Yuendumu requires empowering its people, restoring funding, and addressing systemic failures to ensure no more lives are lost.