Palm Island police to get 'bravery medals'

Bill Mason, Brisbane

While tensions continue to rise between the Aboriginal community on Palm Island, near Townsville, and the Queensland state Labor government, it has been revealed that some police officers involved in the "riot" on the island late last year will receive "bravery medals".

The confrontation between police and Aboriginal youth occurred in the aftermath of the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee in November. A coroner's inquest into the death is set to commence shortly.

Queensland police minister Judy Spence angered Palm Island community leaders when she told a conference of police commissioners in Brisbane on March 14 that Palm Island was "a dysfunctional community which is lacking in leadership, where few people have a sense of social obligation".

Palm Island Aboriginal Council chairperson Erykah Kyle, who said she is still carrying the scars of her own son dying in custody, said the community was still mourning a loved one. She said she was "saddened" by Spence's comments. "She lives on the mainland and perhaps from her position she can not see it as clearly as we do", Kyle said.

Premier Peter Beattie is still awaiting the findings of a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into whether he attempted to bribe the Palm Island council by offering to waive an $800,000 debt in return for their support in opening a police youth club on the island.

From Green Left Weekly, March 23, 2005.

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From GLW issue 620