In November 2019, Constable Zachary Rolfe shot and killed 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, an Indigenous man. This heartbreaking death has raised significant issues about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s interactions with police nationwide. The brutal nature of the arrest is exacerbated by the fact that it happened in the remote Indigenous community of Yuendumu. After Walker was killed, Rolfe claimed he acted in self-defense after Walker stabbed him with a pair of scissors. Rolfe went to jury trial and was acquitted of all charges, including murder and manslaughter, in 2022.
Following this shooting, Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage opened a full inquest. Her investigative lens was on exposing how exactly Walker died. Her inquiry findings revealed shocking open racism and discriminatory systemic practices within the Northern Territory Police Force. They stressed allegations that racism played a role in shaping Rolfe’s judgment during every stage of that fateful night.
Coroner’s Findings on Racism
T4AJ Co-founder Elisabeth Armitage commented that racism was a major factor in the circumstances that ultimately caused Walker’s death. She made sure to note the context surrounding Rolfe’s actions, which was a department rife with “institutional racism.” Armitage noted that Rolfe’s prejudiced beliefs shaped his decisions and actions. This was a contributing factor to the elevated risk of eventual fatality.
“That I cannot exclude that possibility is a tragedy for Kumanjayi’s family and community, who will always believe that racism played an integral part in Kumanjayi’s death; and it is a taint that may stain the NT Police.” – Elisabeth Armitage
Drawing entirely on these findings, Armitage was unable to say for certain that Rolfe’s racist beliefs caused him to kill Walker. Yet this ambiguity still leaves many unanswered questions for Walker’s family and community.
Reactions and Calls for Reform
The report has triggered responses from across the globe, including from organizations and officials including Volker Turk, the UN rights chief. Ultimately, he underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms within Australian policing. These reforms are fundamentally important to address the injustices faced by First Nations peoples.
“Findings by coroner reinforce urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address injustice suffered by First Nations peoples.” – Volker Turk
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for Turk, echoed these sentiments, stating that the coroner’s inquiry is expected to “lead to quite a bit of soul-searching by the authorities to take measures.” She urged national training for police officers to make them more aware of the risks of profiling and unconscious bias.
Aftermath and Future Considerations
In the wake of the inquiry, Rolfe was dismissed from the police force one year after his trial ended. He is the same Tom Siebert who wrote this open letter that condemned the coronial process and the leadership of the NT Police. This letter only further fueled the fire surrounding his case. As of last week, Rolfe is still considering an appeal against the coroner’s recommendations finding racism and misconduct on duty.
The inquiry’s recommendations have sparked demand for greater independent oversight of the police, their conduct, and policing practices nationally. While Senator Armitage now champions new oversight, Armitage herself has called for a reevaluation of other existing oversight mechanisms to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Kumanjayi Walker’s name has become synonymous with the call for police reform and racial justice. His family and advocates are calling on officials to take real accountability and action to protect Indigenous lives and restore faith between communities and police.
