Let off for minister over Yanner affair

Issue 

Let off for minister over Yanner affair

BY BILL MASON

BRISBANE — Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said on May 8 that he was taking no further action against mines and energy minister Tony McGrady for a letter the minister forwarded to the judge presiding over Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner's application for reinstatement to the board of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

On May 5, Federal Court judge John Dowsett said it was "inappropriate" under the separation of powers between government and judiciary for the letter to have been sent on to him. In the letter, Burke shire mayor Annie Jones urged her local member, McGrady, to "most strongly" inform the judge that Yanner did not have a high level of support in the Carpentaria community.

However, Aboriginal people in far north Queensland elected Yanner knowing that a conviction for assault may mean he would be prevented from representing them on the ATSIC board.

The Federal Court has the power to override Yanner's exclusion from his elected post but is yet to make a ruling.

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