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How Kumanjayi Walker’s death should change the NT Police

Photo: AAP

It’s been a year since Kumanjayi Walker’s family gathered in the Central Australian community of Yuendumu to hear the findings of a coronial inquest into his death.

Kumanjayi Walker was a 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man when he was shot and killed by former constable Zachary Rolfe in 2019.

In 2022, Rolfe was found not guilty of Walker’s murder. Walker’s family has always maintained that Rolfe’s racism played a role in the death – something the coroner said couldn’t be ruled out.

Today, we bring you an episode recorded just after the inquest, with investigative journalist Kate Wild – whose book, The Red House, examines Kumanjayi Walker’s death and how the racist culture of the Northern Territory Police enabled Zachary Rolfe to act with impunity.

This episode was originally published in July 2025.

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Guest: Investigative journalist and author of The Red House, Kate Wild

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