Labor's Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Linda Burney has called on the government to listen to the demands of those demonstrating in the wake of the alleged murder of a man in police custody.
The Yuendumu community has welcomed the announcement that a police officer has been charged over the fatal shooting of Warlpiri teenager Kumunjayi Walker, but are demanding further action.
Ms Burney told reporters in Canberra on Thursday, she understood their frustrations, citing extreme poverty, lack of clean water and government policies such as the expansion of the cashless debit card.
Protesters demand justice for the alleged murder of Walpiri teenager Kumanjayi Walker. Source: AAP
"I think the way that I feel is the way that many people feel - and that's a level of frustration in the sense of listening to Aboriginal people, making sure there are the appropriate services in community."
Mr Walker's shooting death has sparked nationwide protests with demonstrators demanding justice and improved services.
Another rally will be held in Alice Springs on Thursday morning with protesters calling for 24-hour medical staff to be based in the Yuendumu community and alternative community policing methods to be introduced.
Ms Burney said the government needed to understand the challenges of First Nations people living in the Northern Territory such as "the importance of connection to country and connection to culture and connection to language".
"Listen to what we've got to say," she said.
Asked what was needed to prevent such a shooting from re-occurring, Ms Burney said: "Well that's a question I think you probably need to ask other people, except to say that within the Aboriginal community the spectre of an early death is a very real one, for lots of different reasons."
