News
Ombudsman report exposes “unreasonable and oppressive” watch house conditions
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) welcomes the release of the Ombudsman NT’s Investigation Report (the report) into NT police watch houses. The report exposes the human impact of a justice system that is under severe pressure and a failure of...
NAAJA Responds to comments made by NTG about using NAAJA funds for other purposes
On Tuesday 18 November 2025, in response to questions about service delivery cuts by Legal Aid NT, the NT Chief Minister made comments calling for the reallocation of NAAJA funds to Legal Aid NT to pay for legal representation of Aboriginal clients who are...
NAAJA welcomes the introduction of the Northern Territory Police anti-racism strategy
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) welcomes the introduction of the Northern Territory Police Anti-Racism Strategy (the strategy), and acknowledges the commitments expressed by the Northern Territory Police leadership to dismantle racism within the...
If an Aboriginal man hit a white man, he would be locked up
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is deeply saddened by the 2024 hit-and-run of two Aboriginal men whilst the offender’s drivers' licence was suspended, which resulted in the death of Kunwinjku man Mr Whitehurst and no term of actual imprisonment...
NAAJA welcomes findings of Children’s Commissioner investigation
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) welcomes the release of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s (OCC) investigation report tabled in the Northern Territory (NT) Parliament today. The report follows a complaint made by NAAJA regarding the...
Aboriginal youth in detention hits record high
The Northern Territory yesterday hit another unwanted milestone in terms of youth detention with a record number of Indigenous youth held in detention since 2016/17. The Productivity Commission last week reported that the rate of detention of Aboriginal youth in the...
Legislative changes to see the gap widen even further in the Northern Territory
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is echoing concerns raised federally and by youth and justice advocates about regressive changes to the Youth Justice Act passed by the Northern Territory Parliament yesterday. They are not going to have any...
NAAJA appoints Ben Grimes as new CEO
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Grimes as its chief executive officer. Ben Grimes is an experienced CEO and manager, with a strong local and national reputation as a lawyer and linguist. Since 2020,...
Kumanjayi Walker death avoidable
Today in Yuendumu, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage in a 683 page report handed down findings into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, a young Walpiri and Luritja teenager whose life was taken by Northern Territory Police in November 2019. She recognised the pain and sorrow of...
Alice Springs death in custody more evidence of a broken system
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is deeply saddened by the news this week of the death in custody of a 24 year old Aboriginal man in Alice Springs. The directors and staff of NAAJA have expressed their condolences to the young man’s family and...
Court of Appeal hands down decision on damages for tear gassing of children at Don Dale
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has noted the decision of the Northern Territory Court of Appeal in a long-running case involving the use of tear gas on 21 August 2014 on youth held at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. At that time, the...
Urgent action needed as Closing the Gap commitments worsens
NAAJA is calling for immediate government action to address a looming crisis in the Northern Territory justice system. New data from the Productivity Commission shows that the target to reduce Aboriginal incarceration is out of reach unless immediate action is taken....