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Grinch Steals Christmas from Palm Island Community

24 December 2004 - Carpentaria Land Council Media Release - At a time when Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson was inviting the community to join the Queensland Police Service in celebrating the "festive season in song" at the Suncorp Piazza in South Bank, Brisbane. The Palm Island community is not celebrating this festive season.

"I have written to the Queensland Police Commissioner today raising serious concerns in relation to policing practices on Palm Island since the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee on 19 November 2004. The current level of communication by the Queensland Police Service with the Palm Island Community is inadequate and contributes to further social breakdown within the Aboriginal community." Said Brad Foster Chairman of the Carpentaria Land Council

"I have asked the Queensland Police Commissioner as a matter of urgency to respond to the following issues:

1. On what basis and at whose direction has Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, the arresting officer of Cameron Doomadgee, been transferred, when it would be more appropriate for him to be stood down pending the investigation by the Crime and Misconduct Commission?

2. I seek an urgent response from the Queensland Police Commissioner in relation to the following concerns regarding the current police activity on Palm Island.

A) There is still a large contingent of police complete with riot gear present on Palm Island and it is a situation of confrontation, rather than reconciliation. What policy is in place to direct such Police activity and who are the senior officers implementing this policy?

B) Why are police still using methods of confrontation, when clearly an approach of constructive engagement with the community is needed to assist the Palm Island community in this difficult time? What is the basis of the decision to undertake this approach to policing on Palm Island?

C) Why are people being detained in custody for long periods of time without access to legal representation on the Island? I have received accounts of people being held in the back of police vehicles for questioning without access to food, drinking water and medicines for extended periods of time.

D) Is the Queensland Police Commissioner aware that being detained for long periods is a form of intimidation and coercion, especially without legal representation?

E) Is the Queensland Police Commissioner aware of accounts of police storming into people's homes with young children and babies present, on one occasion a pregnant woman and grandparents were forced to lay face down on the ground? Can the Queensland Police Commissioner advise why other policing options have not been attempted?

F) Why is counselling not available for the family of Cameron Doomadgee to provide support during their time of grief regarding his death in custody.

3. Who made the decision for the Queensland Police to lobby strongly for the 17 men charged on 26 November 2004, to not be allowed to return home for Christmas Day, when clearly it is at this time families need their loved ones, especially in the wake of the death of Mr Doomadgee and the negative social and psychological impact of current policing activity?

4. What is the basis of the decision of police to not support orders that would allow the men to return to the Island restricting the movements of these men on the Island so their families and friends could at least see the men for Christmas Day? Why have the police not sought assistance from the Palm Island community to bring about a constructive outcome? I believe that with the current level of policing on the Island this is not impossible.

5. What process is proposed by the Queensland Police Commissioner's department to address the breakdown in relations between the Palm Island community and the Police? In particular what will the Queensland Police Commissioner's actions be to address these serious violations of peoples' human rights?

The situation on Palm Island could be construed by any reasonable person as a tense and excessive response to the Aboriginal community's grief regarding the circumstances of the death of Cameron Doomadgee and I look forward to the Queensland Police Commissioner's response to these matters."

Further Information contact:

Brad Foster

Chief Executive Officer of the Carpentaria Land Council

Mobile Phone Contact Number: 0427027063

Source: Carpentaria Land Council

Further information: palm island issues page - includes news index and external links

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