Queensland government drops Wotton appeal

Lex Wotton.

Lex Wotton said he can finally relax after the Queensland government dropped its appeal against a Federal Court ruling that found police had been racist in their response to riots on Palm Island in 2004.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath announced the government was withdrawing the appeal on February 28, “having received legal advice about the State’s prospects of success”.

The initial Federal Court ruling, handed down last December, found police had breached the Racial Discrimination Act during community unrest after the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee, and awarded $220,000 in damages to Wotton and his family.

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