Australia Requires Urgent Police Reforms Following Kumanjayi Walker Shooting

The United Nations (UN) has called for sweeping reforms in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) policing after a coronial inquest into the 2019 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker exposed deep-seated issues. The inquiry revealed troubling allegations of institutional racism and excessive force, prompting urgent demands for change to restore trust in law enforcement.

In November 2019, Constable Zachary Rolfe shot Kumanjayi Walker three times during an attempted arrest in Yuendumu, a remote NT community. The inquest, led by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage, concluded that Rolfe’s actions were marked by racism and a disregard for protocol, with the officer ignoring a safer arrest plan. Armitage’s 683-page report highlighted “hallmarks of institutional racism” within the NT Police Force, noting racist language and attitudes normalized among officers, including derogatory slurs in text messages. While she could not definitively link Rolfe’s biases to the shooting, she stated, “I cannot exclude that possibility,” a finding that has fueled community outrage.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, emphasized the need for “comprehensive reforms” to address systemic injustices faced by First Nations peoples. His statement on X underscored the inquest’s findings as a wake-up call for Australia, urging action to curb excessive force and racial bias in policing. This aligns with broader concerns about the treatment of Indigenous Australians, with Walker’s death being one of 598 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody since 1991.

Critics argue the NT Police have been slow to act, despite claims of implementing anti-racism strategies. Leanne Liddle, NT Police’s executive director of community resilience, called the findings “deeply confronting” but promised “lasting reform.” However, community leaders and Walker’s family, still grieving the recent death of another Yuendumu man, Kumanjayi White, in custody, demand stronger accountability, including an independent oversight body.

The coroner’s 32 recommendations, including public anti-racism strategies and revised recruitment processes, aim to rebuild trust. Yet, skepticism remains about their implementation under the current NT government’s framework, which some see as prioritising punitive measures over systemic change. Australians deserve a police force that upholds fairness, not one tainted by bias and tragedy.