The family of Kumanjayi White, an Indigenous man who died following police restraint, has voiced significant concerns regarding the confidentiality surrounding the independent review of his death. This review has been submitted to the Northern Territory (NT) Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but remains undisclosed to the public.
According to NT Police, they are unable to provide access to specific sections of the review until the criminal investigation reaches its conclusion. The DPP is currently deliberating on whether to file charges against the involved police officers, amidst appeals from Indigenous leaders for the NT government to disclose the review findings, which they have labeled as “disappointing” due to the lack of transparency.
Kumanjayi White, a Warlpiri man with disabilities, tragically passed away in May 2025 after being restrained by two police officers in the candy aisle of a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs. The independent review, initiated by the NT Director of Public Prosecutions last year, was returned to NT Police just last week, nearly a year after Mr. White’s passing.
The NT government and police have declined to identify which interstate police force conducted the review, nor have they disclosed the investigation’s scope, methodology, or its financial implications for taxpayers.
Calls for an independent investigation, free from police influence, have come from various groups including First Nations legal services, Amnesty International, and Mr. White’s family. Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, who is also Mr. White’s grandfather, expressed his frustration, stating that the review did not involve the family and he has yet to receive any findings from it. “The independent investigation did not include our families. The investigation is biased,” Mr. Hargraves asserted. “These are human rights violations, and Australia is not adhering to international law. We seek justice.”
NT Police confirmed that the review has indeed been submitted to the DPP, but reiterated they cannot release any parts of it until the investigation is finalized. The coroner’s office informed ABC News that it has not received a complete brief of evidence and will not be making any releases during the ongoing investigation concerning potential criminal charges.
A representative from the National Justice Project, which advocates for Mr. White’s family, criticized the lack of communication from authorities regarding the review’s findings. “It is unacceptable that our clients have had to learn about a significant development in the investigation through media reports instead of direct communication from the NT Police,” the spokesperson remarked. “This persistent failure to engage reflects a broader issue of transparency and accountability in this case.”
The family remains frustrated, still seeking clarity about Kumanjayi White’s final moments, despite having repeatedly requested access to CCTV footage from the incident. “The police possess the CCTV footage. They assert they cannot update our family because they are still collecting evidence,” Mr. Hargraves said. “If the CCTV contains no incriminating evidence, it should be made public.”
Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Mick Gooda emphasized the importance of transparency in the investigative process. “While it is essential to follow due process, this must be done openly,” he stated. “I urge the government to release the report immediately so the community and the family can understand its findings instead of merely passing it to the DPP for another round of deliberation, which only prolongs the family’s wait for answers.”
NT Shadow Attorney-General Chansey Paech expressed disappointment at the government’s reticence regarding the review. “It’s concerning to witness the NT government maintaining such silence and secrecy on this matter,” Mr. Paech remarked. “It almost seems as if they wish for people to forget this tragedy, which is simply unacceptable.”
Northern Territory Chief Minister and Police Minister Lia Finnochiaro has not responded to ABC News’ requests for comment. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has called for federal intervention, asserting that police investigating their own does not meet community expectations. “The federal government has a responsibility to ensure an independent process for investigating police actions,” she stated. “Transparency and accountability regarding this death are crucial, and the report needs to be made public so everyone can understand what truly transpired.”
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and federal MP for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour have both refrained from commenting while the investigation is still ongoing.
