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The root cause of TJ Hickey's death

17 July 2004 - The reaction to Thomas Hickey's death on February 15 spoke volumes about the failures of black-white relations in and around the Aboriginal ghetto of Redfern.

Mayhem was sparked amid accusations that police recklessly pursued TJ, as he was known, and caused the 17-year-old to crash his bicycle into a fence, where he was impaled. Forty police were injured in subsequent street rioting perpetrated by dozens of young Aborigines urged on by others' hysteria and race-baiting.

The State Coroner, John Abernethy, has delayed his verdict on the Hickey death, sensibly acknowledging that "rushed justice is no justice". The evidence, however, has so far persuaded his counsel, Elizabeth Fullerton, SC, that police did not contribute directly or indirectly to TJ's death.

Who or what, then, was responsible?

Rather than being tied directly to the events of February 14 - the day of TJ's fatal wounding - a more instructive explanation is likely to be found in the mire of disadvantage that colours Aboriginal history over more than two centuries. It's typified by poverty, ignorance and exclusion from the broader community, by well-intentioned but paternalistic policies that entrenched dependency and diminished self-esteem and self-reliance, by a ghetto existence which excites hatred and distrust on both sides, where Us v Them tensions and bitterness flourish.

This is not some black armband view of history but objective acknowledgement of fact. It is not a question of blame so much as clearing the decks to make room for durable solutions.

The drug and alcohol addiction that has debilitated so much of Aboriginal life at Redfern, that has made Redfern a crucible for criminality and despair, is not unique to Redfern. It is, tragically, a too-frequent characteristic of Aboriginal life and stems from disadvantage according to race.

These issues probably go beyond the Coroner's task. They better fit the brief of the NSW upper house committee examining the Redfern riot.

It is not possible to explain, let alone reverse, the collapse of civil order at Redfern (or elsewhere in Aboriginal Australia) without coming to terms with the ravages of heroin and drunkenness. And these scourges cannot be understood without appreciation of the despair in which they are rooted.

Far-sighted social policy, with its emphases on economic self-sufficiency and community aspiration and pride, will not fix the mess alone, of course.

Lawlessness must be confronted so that citizens of any race can go about their daily lives confident their property and their persons are safe.

Clearly, the Government and police yesterday announced the upgrading of police resources and efforts at Redfern so as to deflect the impact of any criticism the Coroner might have been about to level.

The Redfern riot exposed poor police preparedness and reminded us that a plethora of relatively small crimes will escalate to serious disorder if under-attended. The extra police clout should make a difference at Redfern but it is catch-up and it can be only part of the remedy.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Further information: redfern riots

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