NT government slammed over no-show to federal racism inquiry

NT government slammed for federal racism inquiry no-show as committee hears evidence in Darwin Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 7:37pm In short: A federal inquiry into racism against First Nations people has held hearings in Darwin this week, where it has heard allegations of systemic racism in the Northern Territory. The NT government has been criticised for snubbing invitations to make submissions and give evidence to the inquiry. What's next? The committee will head to Alice Springs tomorrow. A Commonwealth inquiry into racism against Aboriginal people has heard allegations of systemic racism within Northern Territory courts, hospitals, schools and the general community, as the NT government faces scathing criticism for snubbing the probe. Formed after an alleged terror attack against First Nations people marching in an Invasion Day rally in Perth this year, the federal inquiry has this week been in Darwin to hear evidence from local Aboriginal organisations and individuals. However, a notable absence from proceedings was the NT government, with multiple departments, including the NT Police Force, snubbing invitations to make submissions and give evidence. In a statement, inquiry chair Jana Stewart, a Labor senator, said the NT government had not said why its agencies would not appear. "With almost 30 per cent of the Northern Territory's population being First Nations people, the NT government's participation is particularly important,"she said. All state and territory governments were invited to make submissions to the inquiry, with all except the Queensland and NT governments making statements. Committee member and NSW independent MP Andrew Gee said the NT government's snub showed contempt for the federal parliament and "smacks of an avoidance of scrutiny". "The processes of the Australian parliament need to be taken seriously, especially when it's the Australian taxpayer that's basically paying all of their wages, and funding the Northern Territory government," he said. A number of witnesses at the hearings made scathing comments about the NT government's absence, including Northern Land Council (NLC) chair Matthew Ryan, who said the no-show showed the government was "ignorant and racist". The NT government was contacted for comment but declined to respond to Mr Ryan's allegation or say why its agencies had not attended. Rise in online hate since Voice to Parliament referendum Larrakia Nation chair Michael Rotumah told the inquiry that since the failed 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, he had seen an increase in racial hatred from "keyboard warriors" on social media. "None of them really come and say anything to your face, where you can sit down and have an honest conversation and educate people," he said. The inquiry heard similar testimony when it sat in Perth, where the alleged terrorist attack that spurred the inquiry occurred. NLC representatives told the committee any social media posts concerning Aboriginal people or issues attracted a wave of racist comments. NLC chief executive Yuseph Deen said for young Aboriginal people, seeing those comments impacted on their sense of identity. "When Aboriginal children see how their communities are talked about online, it damages their sense of identity and belonging," he said. "That harm is real and it is measurable." Mr Rotumah said stricter moderation was needed to combat racial vilification online, suggesting a similar approach to the recent social media ban for under-16s. "Surely you can implement something on social media around racism right? You're the government," he told the committee. Calls for independent body to tackle institutional racism During the hearings in Darwin, witnesses spoke about examples of what they believed was institutional or systemic racism in the Northern Territory. Those instances included the sentencing of fatal hit-and-run driver Jake Danby, the slow flood recovery in the Daly River region, the underfunding of remote services, and the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system. Chair of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT), Rob McPhee, also told the inquiry the NT government's policy of fining parents for their children's non-attendance at school was an example of "subtle structural racism" in the territory. "We see everyday laws enacted that are really only going to impact on Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, and everybody knows it, but it's considered OK because it's applied to everyone," he said. Numerous witnesses, including Mr McPhee, recommended an independent statutory body be established, with institutional targets to eliminate racism and the ability to impose penalties. Mr McPhee said the body could benefit health services by establishing certain standards and penalties to prevent racism. "Hospitals should be required under their funding to show that they are delivering cultural competency [training] in making hospitals safe and free of racism," he said. "There's no ability to measure whether they are or not, and if you were able to, there's still no consequences." Larrakia elder Eric Fejo threw down the gauntlet to the committee, calling for its members to take action. "This is the third Senate inquiry I've been to on my own country. I don't know what you mob get paid but you need to do your job," he said. "I can look you mob in the eye and tell you mob: you all come and go, people like me we're left to pick up the pieces."