Kakadu National Park Board Chair Ryan Barrowei Charged with Domestic Violence
Ryan Barrowei appears in Katherine Local Court facing aggravated assault and domestic violence charges.
Quick Look
- Ryan Barrowei, chair of Kakadu National Park's management board, appeared in court charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence.
- A suppression order was denied.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kakadu National Park is jointly managed by the Commonwealth and traditional owners, with Ryan Barrowei serving as board chair.
The chair of the powerful management board for Kakadu National Park has been charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence.
Ryan Barrowei appeared in the Katherine Local Court today.
Mr Barrowei applied for a suppression order through his legal representatives, who argued publication of the charges would bring the Kakadu board "into disrepute".
But Judge Julie Franz said those arguments were outweighed by the principle of "open justice" and declined the order.
The prosecution opposed bail, but Judge Franz decided to grant it with strict conditions, given the lengthy adjournment of the case.
The bail conditions include that Mr Barrowei reside in a particular Aboriginal community on the outskirts of Nitmiluk National Park.
He must also not buy or drink alcohol, must submit to police testing when requested, and must not go near his ex-wife.
Mr Barrowei sat silently in the dock as the conditions were read out.
The matter was adjourned to September 8.
Kakadu's board of management
Kakadu National Park is jointly managed by the Commonwealth and traditional owners, because most of the park is leased Aboriginal land.
Mr Barrowei, a Jawoyn traditional owner, was reappointed as the chair of the Kakadu Board of Management on July 8, 2026, and has served several terms in the role.
The board has 21 members in total, including 16 traditional owners.
The remainder are public servants from the Commonwealth, as well as a representative from the NT government, a tourism operator and a nature conservationist.
The charges against Mr Barrowei come at a critical time for the park, as the 10-year management plan that has been in place for Kakadu since 2016 is about to expire.
The management of the park has also recently been criticised by NT Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby, who said prolonged closures of some key waterfalls were putting intense pressure on tourism operators.
Parks Australia responded by saying the heavy wet season earlier this year had created a backlog of maintenance work.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water declined to comment in relation to Mr Barrowei's charges given the matter is before the courts.
Parks Australia has also been contacted for comment.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The court case will resume on September 8.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Ryan Barrowei step down from his position as board chair?
