'Deeply sorry': NT Police Commissioner apologises to Indigenous Australians at Garma Festival

GARMA FESTIVAL 2024

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy apologies to the indigenous community for past injustices during the Garma Festival held at the Gulkula ceremonial in the Gove Peninsula of the Northern Territory, Saturday, August 3, 2024. The Garma Festival is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, a 4-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture held in remote northeast Arnhem Land. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Commissioner Michael Murphy delivered the apology at Australia's largest Indigenous gathering, the Garma Festival, which also heard from the Prime Minister on the direction of Indigenous policy after the Voice referendum result.


Key Points
  • Aboriginal groups have welcomed an apology delivered by the Northern Territory Police chief for injustice and harm inflicted on First Nations Australians in the past 150 years.
  • The latest data on the Closing the Gap targets, show the number of First Nations people in prison in Australia continues to rise, despite a 2031 target to decrease Indigenous incarceration by 15 per cent.
  • NT Police has announced it will develop an anti-racism strategy to be led by Arrernte lawyer and former police officer Leanne Liddle.





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