Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) Police Commissioner Michael Murphy resigned from the NT Police Association (NTPA) on Monday after the NTPA criticised the apology he made to First Nations people at the Garma Festival. During the festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering celebrating Yolngu life and culture, Murphy issued a broad apology for the historical harms and injustices inflicted by the NT police since their inception in 1870.
Murphy referenced the “profound and ongoing” harms of Australia’s colonial history, including intergenerational trauma from the Stolen Generations, stating, “I know that I [cannot] change or undo the past, but as police commissioner alongside our police officers, we can commit to not repeating the mistakes and injustices of the past.” Key actions he proposed included aiming for 30% Aboriginal representation across all police ranks and implementing an anti-racism strategy to improve training on racism, history, and human rights within the NT police (link).
The NTPA, however, raised concerns over Murphy’s approach, with acting president Lisa Bayliss highlighting that the association was not informed of the contents of his speech beforehand. Bayliss emphasized the need for the association members to receive support from senior police leadership without being unfairly shouldered with blame. Additionally, she stressed that the focus should be extended to the wellbeing and development of NT police members, including creating advancement opportunities for Indigenous employees within the force (link).
In a statement of resignation, Murphy expressed his disappointment with the NTPA’s criticism, asserting that understanding and acknowledging history is crucial for the future of NT police and their mission to serve and protect all Territorians (link).
Murphy’s apology comes nearly five years after NT police officer Zachary Rolfe fatally shot 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker. Rolfe was acquitted on charges of murder on grounds of self-defence by the NT Supreme Court. The coronial inquest into Walker’s death revealed a pervasive culture of racism within the NT Police Force, triggering a joint review into racism by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and the NT Police. Murphy also committed to delivering a separate apology to the community of Yuendumu, where Walker was killed (link).
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