Images of three certificates allegedly handed out to members of an elite NT Police unit have been revealed following the lifting of a suppression order by the NT coroner.
WARNING: This story contains racist and offensive language and images.
It also contains reference to sexual assault.
The ABC has chosen to show one of the certificates, which includes offensive language, to illustrate the racism referenced in this reporting.
During the long-running coronial inquest into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, who was fatally shot by then-Constable Zachary Rolfe in 2019, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage heard allegations of widespread racism and the use of racist language among police officers.
Mr Rolfe, who is no longer a serving officer and acquitted of Mr Walker's murder in 2022, told the coroner the Territory Response Group (TRG) handed out an annual award, known colloquially by other police as a "Coon of the Year" award.
It was issued "for the most coon-like behaviour of the year" he told the court.
TRG members say awards are 'light-hearted'
In sworn affidavits to the coroner's court, members of the TRG denied any suggestion the award in question was referred to as a "Coon of the Year" award.
They said a series of "light-hearted" annual awards were handed out, including the "Noogooda Award" which Mr Rolfe had referenced.
"There has always been an in-house joke that the members of TRG have been considered Neanderthal caveman-type people who can lift heavy things but who don't do too much thinking," Superintendent Shaun Gill said.
"Members of the TRG designed a number of awards to be delivered every year at a Christmas party with the main intent of creating a way of relieving stress and poking light-hearted fun at TRG and members of the section."
The awards included a "Noogoodah Award" with various different spellings over the years, which members insisted had no Indigenous connotations or racist undertones.
"I thought the word was more of a made-up caveman type of word to reflect the Neanderthal theme and I can't be sure of the origin," Superintendent Gill said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner James Gray-Spence, who once received the award, said he believed it was a "made-up word" which had "no Indigenous connection".
Mr Rolfe said the trophy for the award looked like a club with nails in the end, however TRG members said in their statements it was a home-made weapon which had been confiscated during riots in Wadeye.
Three certificates released by NT Courts
The background of one of the "Noogooda Award" certificates tendered to the inquest was an Aboriginal flag, given for "caution for a rape…… that's all that needs to be said".
TRG members who gave statements to the court said the award was re-named the "Voldemort Award" in 2022 after a review of the unit, undertaken during the coronial inquest, which had begun digging up allegations of racism within the force.
"In 2022, a decision was made to conduct a thorough review of all TRG practices, facilities, equipment and documentation," said Senior Sergeant Meacham King.
"The name of the Nugeda award was changed as there was a concern that some people may take the word/meaning out of context.
"By then the unit was a lot better educated and more sensitive to the impact of perceptions and misunderstandings from the Walker Coronial inquest."
Two other certificates, issued in 2012, were also released by the coroner.
One was another "Nooguda Award" issued for "outstanding lack of excellence in cooking sausages" featuring an edited image of a naked man and a woman in a bikini.
Another so-called "Sooty Award" certificate was also released, issued for "outstanding lack of excellence in approaching a stronghold".
The certificate featured a photoshopped image of Usain Bolt, with his face covered.
All the recipient's names on the awards have been covered up.
Senior Sergeant King said the "Sooty Award" was named after a former member whose nickname was Sooty and rejected any allegation the name was racist.
"This award is named after an ex-TRG member after he was doing training in four-wheel drive recovery equipment," Senior Sergeant King said.
"He was using an exhaust jack and over-inflated it resulting the end to come off the Toyota Troop Carrier exhaust pipe and covered him in diesel 'soot'."
Speaking to media after the awards were released, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the NT Police Force needed to "move forward" and "do a significant amount" of work.
"I have seen the certificates, it's absolutely disgraceful and abhorrent and I won't stand for that type of culture in the Northern Territory Police," Commissioner Murphy said.
He said a joint investigation with the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and the NT Police Professional Standards Command was underway.
An initial suppression order over the images was requested by lawyers for the NT Police Force, arguing questions had been raised about the "authenticity" of the certificates.
The inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker is scheduled to resume in May.
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2024-03-18 20:32:03Z
CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTAzLTE5L3RlcnJpdG9yeS1yZXNwb25zZS1ncm91cC1udC1wb2xpY2UtY2VydGlmaWNhdGVzLWNvdXJ0LWNvcm9uZXIvMTAzNjAxMjcy0gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMzYwMTI3Mg
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