Up next
Author
Share article
The post has been shared by 0 people.
Facebook 0
X (Twitter) 0
Pinterest 0
Mail 0

Warning: this content is distressing and contains the names of Aboriginal people who have passed away.
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.”

Lifeline 13 11 14
You May Also Like
The social media ban requires age-restricted platforms to remove the accounts of under-16s.

Readers of Nine.com.au Voice Concerns Over Ineffectiveness of Child Safety Measures

Exclusive: It’s been almost half a year since the implementation of Australia’s…
Trump still has total control of the GOP - and that could doom them

Trump’s Unyielding Hold on the GOP: A Double-Edged Sword for Future Success

With months to go before the US mid-term elections, Donald Trump’s iron…
Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria

Leaked Data Reveals Surge in Diphtheria Cases Predating Public Health Alert by Weeks

Diphtheria numbers in the Northern Territory reportedly surged weeks before a public…
Laos cave rescue

Heroic Cave Rescue: Four Men Safely Freed from Flooded Laos Cavern

In a dramatic conclusion to a tense rescue mission, authorities in Laos…

First Diver Successfully Rescued from Laos Cave as Mission Gains Momentum

IN BRIEF The first trapped diver was pulled from the cave late…
President Donald Trump has lambasted a judge for blocking the renaming of the Kennedy Centre.

Judge Blocks Trump’s Bid to Rename Kennedy Center, Prompting Fiery Response

The potential renaming of the Kennedy Centre has hit a significant roadblock.…
Cameras caught the moment thieves rammed a ute through the doors of a shopping centre and stole an ATM in the dead of night.

Daring Heist: Thieves Crash Vehicle into Shopping Center to Steal ATM, Captured in Dramatic CCTV Footage

Surveillance cameras have captured a dramatic scene where thieves used a ute…
Tornadoes possible as 'strong' weather system hits WA

Brace for Impact: Tornado Threat Looms as Powerful Weather System Targets Washington

Western Australia is bracing for a powerful weather system set to hit…

How Fuel Prices, Inflation, and Stamp Costs Impact Your Wallet in 2023

Are Australian businesses okay? Stay informed with the latest happenings from around…

Climber Breaks 23-Year Record with Lightning-Fast Ascent of Mount Everest

Stay informed and connected with the latest global happenings. Receive complimentary daily…
Mudgee police station

Man Drives Ute into Police Station Amid Farewell for Honored Officer

A suspected sovereign citizen has been arrested after allegedly driving a ute…
Two men have allegedly attacked each other with metal poles during a wild street brawl in Melbourne's west.

Shocking Melbourne Footpath Brawl: Man Struck Twice by Car in Intense CCTV Footage

In a dramatic street altercation captured by CCTV, two men reportedly clashed…