JOINT NAAFLS and CAAFLU MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025
Our Communities Cannot Wait: Urgent Call for Change After Coronial Inquest
31 July 2025 – The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NAAFLS), the Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU) stand in solidarity with the families of four Aboriginal women whose tragic deaths were the subject of a landmark Northern Territory (NT) coronial inquest.
We honour the courage and strength of the families who relived their trauma in the hope of driving change. Their daughters, sisters, aunties, and mothers should still be here with us today. Their absence is felt deeply in our communities.
The coronial process was not symbolic, it was a necessary act of truth-telling. Families came forward in good faith, with courage and with hope, despite their deep pain. The Coroner listened and provided space for their voices to be heard. Now, the Northern Territory Government must act with the same courage and respect.
Our communities cannot wait. Aboriginal women cannot wait. We need action now.
The NT government’s response to the Coroner’s findings must not be vague or selectively implemented. We call for:
• Full implementation of all coronial recommendations,
• Clear timeframes and transparent commitments,
• Independent oversight, and
• Real accountability to the families and communities most affected.
Every time there’s silence or inaction, our communities are left to carry the burden. Aboriginal women are not voiceless, but too often, their voices go unheard. That must end. It is critical that the integrity of the coronial process is protected, as any erosion risks silencing our women’s voices even further and undermining the path to truth and accountability.
The inquest confirmed what we have long known: that Aboriginal-led solutions are essential. Sustainable change must be driven by community, not imposed on us.
The lives of our women are not up for debate or political games. This is a time for leadership, and for action. Aboriginal women deserve to live full, safe lives, free from violence and fear. We will continue to stand with families, demand action, and honour the truth they shared in that courtroom.
ENDS
For more information:
CAAFLU – Jordan Smyth E: [email protected]
NAAFLS – Joe Horner E: [email protected]
