President's Message

23/10/2025

Next Wednesday, 29 October 2025, the Bar Association is hosting a screening of the film ‘Dhakiyarr vs The King’.

In 1934, Yolngu leader Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Albert McColl, a Northern Territory police officer. The High Court of Australia quashed this conviction, finding that the original trial had been a serious miscarriage of justice, and ordered Dhakiyarr’s immediate release. However, while being escorted back to his tribal lands, Dhakiyarr went missing and is presumed to have died.

The film tells the story of Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda’s trial, High Court appeal and subsequent disappearance from the perspective of his family. It culminates in a ceremony of reconciliation involving the descendants of both Dhakiyarr and Constable McColl at the Darwin Supreme Court in 2003.

Although it has been nearly a century since Dhakiyarr’s disappearance, the film raises issues that continue to be of relevance to interactions between First Nations people and the criminal justice system.

The director, Professor Tom Murray, will present the film, and Professor Thalia Anthony will discuss its continued significance. Technology permitting, we also have the privilege of hosting Dhakiyarr’s family members, via AVL, who will be available to answer questions.

I look forward to welcoming several senior members of the Australian judiciary to next week’s screening and hope that many more of you will be able to join us.

You can register your attendance at this CPD at the following link.