Arabic version: التحقيق ينتقد حكومة إقليم الشمال لتغيبها عن جلسات الاستماع في داروين
A federal inquiry into racism directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been holding hearings in Darwin this week and heard allegations of systemic racism across Northern Territory institutions.
According to ABC News, multiple Northern Territory departments, including the NT Police Force, declined invitations to make submissions or give evidence to the committee. Inquiry chair Jana Stewart, a Labor senator, said the NT government did not explain why its agencies would not appear and noted that “with almost 30 per cent of the Northern Territory’s population being First Nations people, the NT government’s participation is particularly important.”
Witnesses described what they believe are examples of institutional or systemic racism in courts, hospitals, schools and the wider community. Testimony cited the sentencing of fatal hit-and-run driver Jake Danby, the slow flood recovery in the Daly River region, underfunding of remote services and the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan said the NT government’s absence was “ignorant and racist,” and the NT government declined to respond to that allegation when contacted.
Speakers also raised the rise of racial hatred online since the failed 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. Larrakia Nation chair Michael Rotumah said he had seen an increase in racial hatred from “keyboard warriors” on social media, and NLC chief executive Yuseph Deen warned that racist comments on social media damage Aboriginal children’s sense of identity and belonging. Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT chair Rob McPhee urged an independent statutory body with institutional targets and enforcement powers, saying hospitals should be required under funding arrangements to demonstrate cultural competency and that there are currently no consequences for failing to do so.
This matters because the inquiry alleges systemic problems across key public services that affect a large First Nations population in the Northern Territory, and the NT government’s refusal to participate could limit parliamentary scrutiny of those claims. The absence of submissions from two jurisdictions — Queensland and the NT — contrasts with other states and territories that did provide statements.
What happens next: the committee will head to Alice Springs tomorrow. Larrakia elder Eric Fejo urged the committee to act, telling members they “need to do your job” and warning that communities are left to pick up the pieces.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | Northern Territory | General | Social/إجتماعية | New South Wales
