Independent Investigations Highlighted by Commissioner
Katie Kiss, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has renewed calls for justice reform. Her plea came after the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to charge officers involved in the death of Kumanjayi White. This announcement coincided with the one-year anniversary of White’s death and National Sorry Day.
In Alice Springs, 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White, who had a cognitive disability, was forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes police officers in a supermarket. The decision by the DPP not to press charges has sparked outrage among community leaders who are advocating for systemic reforms.
“This case yet again highlights the urgent need to ensure that deaths in custody should be independently investigated,” said Commissioner Kiss. “Police should not be investigating other police.”
Push for Royal Commission Recommendations
Governments are being urged to fully implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which remain largely unimplemented 35 years on. The Kumanjayi White case underscores the necessity for independent investigations into deaths in custody to restore community confidence and ensure thorough processes.
While extending condolences to White’s family, Katie Kiss noted the additional harm caused by the timing of the announcement. She emphasised the particular risks faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities within the justice system.
The First Peoples Disability Network has provided several recommendations for the Northern Territory Government. These include adopting Disability Royal Commission justice recommendations, funding Community-Controlled Disability Justice Hubs, and aligning policing practices with Closing the Gap Priority Reforms.
“There have been 634 Indigenous deaths in custody since the Royal Commission, and 16 in 2026 alone,” reiterated Commissioner Kiss. “Governments must act to reduce incarceration rates in line with Closing the Gap commitments.”
National Sorry Day, marking the anniversary of White’s death, has added to the community’s distress. This significant day for First Peoples reflects on past injustices suffered by Indigenous Australians. Criticism has been directed at the timing of the decision, which has compounded the hurt felt by White’s family and the wider community.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:59 am
