Aboriginal peak bodies say NT police commissioner's Garma apology marks a 'new dawning'
In short:
Aboriginal peak bodies and other community leaders have cautiously welcomed NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy's historic apology to First Nations people at Garma.
However the NT's police union has criticised the commissioner for overstepping and voiced fears about its members being 'unfairly' blamed for past actions.
What's next?
Stakeholders say they'll be looking for clear actions to follow the speech, particularly from the police force's new anti-racism strategy.
The head of a Northern Territory alliance of Aboriginal peak bodies has billed an historic apology by the NT's police commissioner as a "new dawning" for repairing Indigenous relations with the force.
Speaking at Garma Festival on Saturday, NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy apologised to Indigenous Territorians for "injustices" carried out by police over the past 154 years.
It came six months after evidence of racism inside NT police was brought to light during a coronial inquest into the 2019 shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu.
In his speech, Commissioner Murphy pledged to "make every effort to eliminate racism" within the force, and announced the development of a new "anti-racism strategy".
John Paterson, convenor of Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the NT (APONT), said he was cautiously optimistic about Commissioner Murphy's commitment to change.
John Paterson said the apology marked a "new dawning" for the relationship between Aboriginal people and police. (ABC News: Tiffany Parker)
"I see it as a new dawning for the way Aboriginal people and police treat each other into the future," he said.
APONT has previously called for NT Police Force to apologise to Indigenous Territorians, after the inquest into Mr Walker's death heard racist awards were circulated amongst members of the force.
"I think it was time [given] all of the injustices, all of the hurt, all of the negative contexts that have been made between Indigenous people and the community," he said.
"Be bold, brave and game and do things differently — I think that's what this opportunity provides."
Mr Paterson said he believed Commissioner Murphy's commitment to change was genuine, but APONT would hold him to account for his reforms.
The NTPA is calling for its members to be backed by the police executive. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Police union calls for 'backing' of its members
Mr Murphy's speech has been met with pushback from the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA).
In a statement, NTPA acting president Lisa Bayliss acknowledged the importance of confronting and learning from the past, but expressed disappointment the union wasn't given more notice.
"It is disappointing the commissioner did not communicate the content, and intent, directly with the membership well in advance of his speech," she said.
"In fact, the speech in its entirety was sent to the media before the membership.
"It is also not the role of police to assess the success or otherwise of federal government-directed policies of Closing the Gap, the Stolen Generation and the Intervention, as the commissioner has done."
Michael Murphy has used a speech at Garma Festival to apologise to First Nations people for a history of 'injustices' involving NT police. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
She said officers needed to be fully included in the process ahead.
"Our members deserve the backing of the senior police executive, ensuring they are not unfairly overburdened with blame but rather empowered to continue their vital work for the benefit of all Territorians," she said.
Commissioner Murphy said he had written to the NTPA about the speech but heard no response and would speak with the union this week.
Shahleena Musk said the apology was promising but clear actions would need to follow. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Apology needs to be followed with 'really clear actions'
The NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk said the apology meant a lot to her personally as a Larrakia woman and to her family.
"The fact that it was on Aboriginal country with Aboriginal leaders present there, just listening to every word," she said.
"That to me is quite bold and basically it's a promise that we will do better."
Ms Musk said investment in community-led responses to crime and conflict was needed, alongside more Indigenous police recruits.
"For me I hope it's an apology that's backed up by really clear actions," she said.
Darwin-based Indigenous activist Mililma May said she was "surprised" by Commissioner Murphy's apology, given he previously denied witnessing racist behaviour within NT Police Force.
"The police commissioner cannot solely be the one to make the police accountable for their actions," she said.
"The police must be … independently held to account."
Mililma May said systemic change within the police force was needed. (ABC News: Roxanne Fitzgerald)
Ms May, an independent candidate in this month's NT election, suggested redistributing funding from the police force into Aboriginal-controlled community organisations as one strategy to reduce crime.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Commissioner Murphy's apology, telling the ABC's Insiders program "it's a good idea to acknowledge history".
He said intergenerational disadvantage was a key factor driving the territory's high incarceration rates.
Anthony Albanese welcomed the police commissioner's apology at Garma on Saturday. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
In the NT, nearly nine in 10 adult prisoners are Indigenous, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making up about 30 per cent of the territory's population.
"You can't say there's some inherent reason why that's the case," Mr Albanese said.
"Obviously, it's because of the circumstances of their birth, because of their economic conditions."
Police commissioner highlights impacts of NT Intervention
Commissioner Murphy pointed to the NT Intervention as an example of previous government policies targeting Indigenous Territorians that were developed "very quickly" in response to media outrage.
"While it was welcomed at first, we saw incarceration rates rise and we saw really quick deployment of police," he said.
"It applied to 77 communities across the territory and it was very impactful, and we're still seeing some of the results of that today."
Michael Murphy says he is determined to improve the relationship between police and First Nations people. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Commissioner Murphy said NT Police's new anti-racism strategy would involve "challenging the recruitment process" and "training people to understand what racism may look like".
He said his team was developing a corporate strategic plan, and would consult with the workforce and external stakeholders in coming months.
"I've written to the anti-discrimination commissioner … and I've written to the Aboriginal Justice Unit," he said.
"I've said: 'The doors are open. Come and have a look at our backyard and help us reform'."
Commissioner Murphy said he also intended to apologise to Warlpiri and Central Australian communities following the conclusion of the coronial inquest into Mr Walker's death.
"There's a lot of anger towards policing from the community," he said.