By WILLIAM TON
The Northern Territory Police commissioner Michael Murphy is set to apologise to the Indigenous community for the injustice and harm done by officers in the past at the Garma Festival on Saturday.
Commissioner Murphy is expected to recognise the harm done to the Aboriginal community by his police force.
“It’ll be an apology for a number of our involvements in policy positions and also some of our activities that we have undertaken as Northern Territory police in the past,” Mr Murphy told ABC News.
“It’s about recognising and owning it so we can move forward and unite and looking at healing and reconciliation into the future to work together for better outcomes for community safety.”
The fatal shooting of Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker caused hurt and anger in the community. (Aaron Bunch/AAP)
The death of Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker offered an opportunity for the force to reflect on its history, Mr Murphy said, as he acknowledged the hurt and anger in the community.
Mr Walker was fatally shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe in November 2019, during an attempted arrest.
Mr Rolfe, who was a Tactical Response Group member, was acquitted of murder during a five-week trial in 2022 and is no longer serving as a police officer.
“It’s a time to make a change. We need to own our past,” Mr Murphy said.
“As the commissioner of police, I’m responsible for the leadership of the agency and the future of it and where we’re headed.
“This is a real opportunity to seize on that and make a difference for the future and make it a better place.”
The apology won’t change things overnight and there will be a lot of work to do, the most senior Indigenous employee at NT Police, Leanne Liddle said.
Ms Liddle is leading the force’s anti-racism strategy.
“The timing is right,” she said.
“We need to recognise that there’s been damage and hurt and pain by Aboriginal people, and the apology will do something towards healing that.”
Leanne Liddle, who’s leading the NT police anti-racism strategy, says the apology’s timing is right. (Mick Tsikas/AAP)
The commissioner conceded cultural reform and accepting change is difficult.
“It’s about manoeuvring through that and communicating with the workforce and our largest stakeholder group, and we will be doing that because change is always hard and it’s slow,” he said.
“An apology or recognition of the past is only the start. It’s not the answer. It’s not the solution. But it’s a way forward.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also address the festival and is expected to announce a First Nations policy focusing on economic empowerment for Indigenous people.
The Garma Festival is a four-day gathering, which began on Friday, on a ceremonial site in northeast Arnhem Land.
AAP
