Australia's Northern Territory police apologize for 'injustice and harm' inflicted on Aboriginal people

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Australia's Northern Territory (NT) police tendered an "unequivocal" apology for "injustice and harm" inflicted on Aboriginal people in the past 150 years, a move welcomed by the First Nations Australians, local media reported on Sunday.

"I apologize in advance for any discomfort my words may cause, but truth-telling is critical for the Northern Territory police to own its part in its challenging history. Many Aboriginals have experienced this challenging history over many, many decades. So today, as the police commissioner for the Northern Territory, I unequivocally say, I'm deeply sorry to all Aboriginal territorials for the past harms and the injustices caused by members of the Northern Territory Police, " said NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy.

Murphy delivered the apology at Australia's largest Indigenous gathering, the Garma Festival, which also included an address by the prime minister, local broadcaster SBS News reported.

He said the apology is part of a process of healing aimed at improving the relationship between police and Indigenous Australians.

The latest data shows that the number of First Nations people in prison in Australia continues to rise, with an incarceration rate is 17 times that of non-Indigenous Australians

- Closing Gap targets

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his speech at the Garma Festival to outline his government's Indigenous policy after the defeat of a referendum last October.

He says he is determined to improve the Closing the Gap outcomes, and a way of addressing that will be through new economic opportunities, including the transition to renewable energy.

Closing the Gap includes national socioeconomic targets across areas that have an impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"So we've had a $4 billion commitment to remote housing here in the territory ... With economic empowerment being the key to that long-term sustainability. But also how do we improve education outcomes. How do we close the gap when it comes to health outcomes?" Albanese was quoted as saying

Professor Peter Yu, who has spent decades advocating for the social, cultural and economic advancement of Aboriginal communities, welcomed Albanese’s emphasis on economic opportunity, saying the decision to develop a dedicated framework on the issue is a "critical" shift in policy direction.