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The Northern Territory government is facing increased scrutiny after it was disclosed that Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby has familial ties to a man convicted for a fatal hit-and-run. This revelation has prompted First Nations leaders and advocates to spotlight long-standing injustices and systemic racism within the legal framework.
Despite a guilty plea, the individual did not receive a prison sentence.
Public anger has surged following the release of text messages in court where Danby mocked the victims with racist slurs and described the crash as a “two for one combo.”
In response, NT prosecutors have appealed the verdict, criticizing the penalty as “manifestly inadequate”.
‘Enraged, but not surprised’
Danggalaba Kulumbirigin Tiwi woman and Advocacy Manager for Change the Record, Mililma May, said the sentence reflected a wider pattern of injustice.
“I was not surprised, but extremely enraged and concerned about the breach of the rule of law and the breach of justice in this decision,” she told NITV.
“This case is an example of the racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this country, which speaks to the ongoing impact of genocide and colonisation.
“On the one hand, Aboriginal children as young as 10 are locked up under some of the harshest bail and sentencing laws in the country.
“Conversely, a non-Aboriginal man is involved in a fatal pedestrian incident, ridicules his victims, escapes the scene, and yet receives merely a community order. The disparity is glaring.”
Connection to Attorney-General
Public anger escalated after it was revealed Attorney-General Boothby is related to Danby, who is her sister’s stepson – something she had not publicly disclosed until after the sentencing.
Boothby insists she declared the conflict of interest internally and had no role in the case.
But May says the connection is “deplorable and disgusting”.
“It speaks to how, if you know people in certain positions and if you have a certain colour skin, you can be absolved of consequences for your violent actions,” she said.
Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo has called on Boothby to resign, saying her “integrity is in tatters”.
Broken trust in institutions
May says the case further erodes trust between Aboriginal communities and NT institutions.
“These systems are broken because they operate with one set of rules for Aboriginal people and another set of rules for everyone else.
“When a police officer can fire three shots at Kumanjayi Walker and be acquitted, or when the family of Kumanjayi White waits in anguish to see whether charges will even be laid – but then we see a non-Aboriginal man who kills an Aboriginal man and doesn’t end up with a sentence – it reinforces our absolute distrust.”
She also pointed to the dramatic rise in Aboriginal incarceration under the Country Liberal Party government.
“This case clearly illustrates that the CLP government has a discriminatory agenda specifically targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” she stated.
‘The dark truth of Australia’
May said Danby’s text messages, though shocking, reflect deeper structural racism.
“His text messages are the underbelly of this country. He is speaking the thoughts of the politicians, the Country Liberal Party, the judges, the institutions.
“His behavior represents the ingrained racism upon which this nation is founded. His text messages are vile, inhumane, and dehumanizing, mirroring the broader Australian society.”
Calls for change
For May, the case underlines the urgent need to move away from punitive approaches and invest in grassroots solutions.
“Ultimately, incarceration, particularly for Aboriginal youth, is invariably detrimental. Real transformation occurs when we prioritize those with lived experiences and grassroots activists,” she added.
“We want programs invested in kids on country. We want justice, not jails. We want programs that centre language and culture, bringing multiple generations together to repair relationships.
“These programs already exist and need to be funded – governments just need the courage to back them with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.”
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