The Northern Territory's peak Aboriginal legal body has demanded an independent investigation following the death of a 44-year-old Aboriginal mother in police custody in Tennant Creek last weekend.
Details of the Incident and Police Response
The woman died on Saturday 27 December after being found unresponsive in her cell at the Tennant Creek watch house. She had been arrested on Christmas Day for an alleged aggravated assault. NT police stated that her death appeared to result from a medical episode.
The NT Police Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation, with oversight from the Professional Standards Command. Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley emphasised that police take any death in custody incredibly seriously.
At a media conference, Malley defended the process of police investigating police, stating, "We investigate our own all the time. We're very good at it, and people talk about conflicts all the time but we're legislated to do it and we do it very well."
Legal Service Demands Transparency and Accountability
Ben Grimes, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), argued that an internal police investigation is insufficient to ensure public confidence or accountability. "Aboriginal families and communities have repeatedly said they do not trust a system where police are effectively investigating themselves after a death," Grimes said.
He stressed that independent, transparent investigations are critical for uncovering the truth, maintaining community trust, and preventing future deaths. "Without genuine independence, the cycle of harm, mistrust and unanswered questions will continue," he added.
Watch House Conditions and Health Assessments
The case has highlighted concerns about custodial health provisions. Unlike watch houses in Alice Springs, Palmerston, and Darwin, the Tennant Creek facility does not have an on-duty custody nurse. This was a key recommendation from a coronial inquiry following a 2012 death in custody in Alice Springs.
NT police confirmed that an "in depth" health assessment was conducted on the woman by an on-duty officer upon admission, and she was deemed fit for custody. The assessment includes questions about any underlying health issues. The woman is understood to have suffered from rheumatic heart disease, a condition disproportionately affecting Indigenous Australians.
Police said she was found unresponsive during a cell check at 1.03pm on Saturday. Officers performed CPR until an ambulance arrived, but she was later pronounced dead at Tennant Creek Hospital. A postmortem was conducted, but findings are pending.
Broader Context of Indigenous Deaths in Custody
This incident occurs against a distressing national backdrop. Official data shows that of the 113 deaths in custody recorded in the 2024-25 period, 33 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This marks the highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody in a 12-month span since 1979.
Local MP Steve Edgington, whose Barkly electorate includes Tennant Creek, offered condolences to the woman's family and loved ones, noting the matter is subject to a full investigation by police and the coroner.
The call from NAAJA underscores a long-standing demand from Aboriginal communities for wholly independent oversight following deaths in custody, seeking to break a persistent cycle of tragedy and institutional mistrust.
