Comments on: The black and white of a Palm Island tragedy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jane http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7343 Jane Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7343 Here here to Billy! Finally someone with a decent argument... Here here to Billy! Finally someone with a decent argument…

]]> By: Realist http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7344 Realist Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7344 Death and prison sentences for Aborigines and bravery medals for brutal policemen at Palm Island. Plainly, Queensland is no country for black men. We should all hang our heads in shame. <br /> Death and prison sentences for Aborigines and bravery medals for brutal policemen at Palm Island. Plainly, Queensland is no country for black men. We should all hang our heads in shame.

]]> By: Chris Graham http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7345 Chris Graham Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7345 Actually Simon, if you (and people like you) quit the Queensland Police service, then we might actually have a shot at "true reconciliation" . You're part of the problem... straight out of the "I'm not a racist but..." school of thought (and employed by "I wasn't racist until I became a copper Pty Ltd..." Actually Simon, if you (and people like you) quit the Queensland Police service, then we might actually have a shot at “true reconciliation” . You’re part of the problem… straight out of the “I’m not a racist but…” school of thought (and employed by “I wasn’t racist until I became a copper Pty Ltd…”

]]> By: Marilyn http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7346 Marilyn Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7346 And to make things even worse the bloody cops are getting bravery medals.<br /><br />What sort of suck hole country are we still in light of the horrors we have seen in the SBS film "The First Australians" that has rendered me distraught at some times and enraged at others - we are no better today. And to make things even worse the bloody cops are getting bravery medals.

What sort of suck hole country are we still in light of the horrors we have seen in the SBS film “The First Australians” that has rendered me distraught at some times and enraged at others - we are no better today.

]]> By: Omar http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7347 Omar Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7347 Justice - HA!<br />The wonder is that the people of Palm Island haven't razed the pig station to the ground and killed all in it.<br /><br />I think we would.<br /><br />Clearly their cultural outlook is far more civilised than ours. What halfwit decided we need to send the brownshirts there anyway?<br /><br />They've been quite capable of minding their own affairs for 40 or 50 thousand years now.<br /><br />I think it'd be appropriate to the people of Palm Island mete out justice to Hurley, Robinson and their scaly mates. Justice - HA!
The wonder is that the people of Palm Island haven’t razed the pig station to the ground and killed all in it.

I think we would.

Clearly their cultural outlook is far more civilised than ours. What halfwit decided we need to send the brownshirts there anyway?

They’ve been quite capable of minding their own affairs for 40 or 50 thousand years now.

I think it’d be appropriate to the people of Palm Island mete out justice to Hurley, Robinson and their scaly mates.

]]> By: Coreen http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7348 Coreen Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7348 Billy your ignorance is outstanding. Before making such brazen and quite frankly ignorant comments, I honestly think that you should have all of the facts before you. To help you out, here is the website for the initial coroner's inquest: http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/mulrunji270906.pdf<br />Also, here is Sir Laurence Street's report: http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/files/AboutUs/StreetReport_PalmIsland.pdf.<br /><br /> Billy your ignorance is outstanding. Before making such brazen and quite frankly ignorant comments, I honestly think that you should have all of the facts before you. To help you out, here is the website for the initial coroner’s inquest: http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/mulrunji270906.pdf
Also, here is Sir Laurence Street’s report: http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/files/AboutUs/StreetReport_PalmIsland.pdf.

]]> By: Simon http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7349 Simon Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7349 So tell me Chris, if a white fella burnt down a police station and a court house, would he be sentenced to just 6 years? I think not. Your report is so biased and so full of shit, I can't help but wonder if the Townsville state member for parliament helped you write this article. <br />Maybe, just maybe, when indigenous people actually start to give a shit about their own lives, and their own well-being, then true reconciliation might just be achievable. So tell me Chris, if a white fella burnt down a police station and a court house, would he be sentenced to just 6 years? I think not. Your report is so biased and so full of shit, I can’t help but wonder if the Townsville state member for parliament helped you write this article.
Maybe, just maybe, when indigenous people actually start to give a shit about their own lives, and their own well-being, then true reconciliation might just be achievable.

]]> By: Julie http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7350 Julie Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7350 Dear Billy and Jane, you'll find all the facts and a very well researched and readable book on the matter in "Gone for a Song" by ABC journalist Jeff Waters. A little knowledge and understanding can go a long way.<br />I can't imagine a whitefella being arrested for singing a song, and losing his life in the process.<br />But then you and I can't even begin to imagine the level of police interference, harrassment and intimidation that your ordinary blackfella experiences going about their daily business.<br />But you might find out if you listened to some.<br /> Dear Billy and Jane, you’ll find all the facts and a very well researched and readable book on the matter in “Gone for a Song” by ABC journalist Jeff Waters. A little knowledge and understanding can go a long way.
I can’t imagine a whitefella being arrested for singing a song, and losing his life in the process.
But then you and I can’t even begin to imagine the level of police interference, harrassment and intimidation that your ordinary blackfella experiences going about their daily business.
But you might find out if you listened to some.

]]> By: Billy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7351 Billy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7351 Good on those brave police men and women who looked after each other on that terrible terrible day when they were just doing their job. Shame on the Palm Island community for supporting such disgraceful behaviour. Lex Wotton got what he deserved. You can't whinge about the police behaving badly and then going on burning down buildings and rioting like that. If they don't want the police to be violent then don't be voilent towards the police, everyone else in Australia that has no trouble with police can grasp that concept why can't Palm Island? I am sure if any other group of people behaved in such a manner anywhere else in Australia they would also be punished like Lex Wotton has been, it has nothing to do with being an Aboriginal Palm Islander and everything to do with breaking the law. Do you really believe that the entire police force in Queensland and the judges and everyone who could be randomly picked for the jury all being in on some consipiracy to treat Palm Islanders badly without reason? Do you really believe that is what is going on here? Do you think that every black person in police custody is being treated extra badly because of some special secret police code to do so? Why was Doomadgee in police custody in the first place if he was such a saint? How many other Palm Islanders have died in police custody since then? I haven't heard any big stories like this on any others so I assume there hasn't been any as I am sure there would be another riot if there was. So I guess black deaths in custody have stopped afterall and all those people wasting their time holding up signs asking for this to happen can change them over to "Stop Black Bad Behaviour" because if that were to happen then maybe there would be less black people like Lex Wotton in custody in the first place let alone dying there. I am not racist, I believe in treating everyone in this country equally and not giving specific groups free range to do as they please and get away with it Good on those brave police men and women who looked after each other on that terrible terrible day when they were just doing their job. Shame on the Palm Island community for supporting such disgraceful behaviour. Lex Wotton got what he deserved. You can’t whinge about the police behaving badly and then going on burning down buildings and rioting like that. If they don’t want the police to be violent then don’t be voilent towards the police, everyone else in Australia that has no trouble with police can grasp that concept why can’t Palm Island? I am sure if any other group of people behaved in such a manner anywhere else in Australia they would also be punished like Lex Wotton has been, it has nothing to do with being an Aboriginal Palm Islander and everything to do with breaking the law. Do you really believe that the entire police force in Queensland and the judges and everyone who could be randomly picked for the jury all being in on some consipiracy to treat Palm Islanders badly without reason? Do you really believe that is what is going on here? Do you think that every black person in police custody is being treated extra badly because of some special secret police code to do so? Why was Doomadgee in police custody in the first place if he was such a saint? How many other Palm Islanders have died in police custody since then? I haven’t heard any big stories like this on any others so I assume there hasn’t been any as I am sure there would be another riot if there was. So I guess black deaths in custody have stopped afterall and all those people wasting their time holding up signs asking for this to happen can change them over to “Stop Black Bad Behaviour” because if that were to happen then maybe there would be less black people like Lex Wotton in custody in the first place let alone dying there. I am not racist, I believe in treating everyone in this country equally and not giving specific groups free range to do as they please and get away with it

]]> By: Harry http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7352 Harry Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7352 It reads as though this was an excerpt from an incident in Alabama U.S.A. in the early 60's. If this man is sentenced to goal let us together rise up in anger at the perpetration of such injustice in the whole Palm Island affair. So how do we take action?<br />Harry It reads as though this was an excerpt from an incident in Alabama U.S.A. in the early 60’s. If this man is sentenced to goal let us together rise up in anger at the perpetration of such injustice in the whole Palm Island affair. So how do we take action?
Harry

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7353 Cathy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7353 By the way the farce continues as a bravery award recipient remains before the CMC over his inquiries into the colleague believed to have run down a woman! Looks like one of those tonnes of ecstasy Mick Keelty's AFP lauded as now being in the hands of authorities might have made its way to Queensland. By the way the farce continues as a bravery award recipient remains before the CMC over his inquiries into the colleague believed to have run down a woman! Looks like one of those tonnes of ecstasy Mick Keelty’s AFP lauded as now being in the hands of authorities might have made its way to Queensland.

]]> By: Outside Looking In http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7354 Outside Looking In Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7354 One of the most poignant moments surrounding the Palm Island situation, was seeing the women interviewed on TV (by the ABC of course since 9 et al never even bothered to send anyone until the riot was over), and the simple view the women had that there was no point in trying to fight what Hurley did.<br /><br />Leanne Clare, it has to be said, irrespective of the bullying by the fat maggots of the QPSU, at least had a go, and the external silk called to decide whether a case existed also, in saying there was a case, handed that case to a bunch of red-necks in Townsville, who still refer to "black bastards" outside the pub. These cretins became a jury to decide Hurleys' supposed guilt or innocence, deciding, as expected, that it is better to have a bunch of cops to drink with rather than have to fight them off when they are accused of in-breeding, which naturally, since they are mates, they won't be charged over (apart from the fact it appears to be normal in Townsville).<br /><br />I thought Queensland had grown up, and that the cops had learned from Fitzgerald, but I guess it's fair to say once a bagman, always a bagman. I guess also it's little surprise that the cops haven't learned the old adage "beware your sins will find you out", even if it is 10 or 15 years down the track from the last black man Hurley murdered. Let's face it, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to join Queenslands' Thick Blue Line. One of the most poignant moments surrounding the Palm Island situation, was seeing the women interviewed on TV (by the ABC of course since 9 et al never even bothered to send anyone until the riot was over), and the simple view the women had that there was no point in trying to fight what Hurley did.

Leanne Clare, it has to be said, irrespective of the bullying by the fat maggots of the QPSU, at least had a go, and the external silk called to decide whether a case existed also, in saying there was a case, handed that case to a bunch of red-necks in Townsville, who still refer to “black bastards” outside the pub. These cretins became a jury to decide Hurleys’ supposed guilt or innocence, deciding, as expected, that it is better to have a bunch of cops to drink with rather than have to fight them off when they are accused of in-breeding, which naturally, since they are mates, they won’t be charged over (apart from the fact it appears to be normal in Townsville).

I thought Queensland had grown up, and that the cops had learned from Fitzgerald, but I guess it’s fair to say once a bagman, always a bagman. I guess also it’s little surprise that the cops haven’t learned the old adage “beware your sins will find you out”, even if it is 10 or 15 years down the track from the last black man Hurley murdered. Let’s face it, you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to join Queenslands’ Thick Blue Line.

]]> By: Sad Barry http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7355 Sad Barry Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7355 Unfortunately this story seems to be all to familier. <br /><br />Thankyou for your informed 'Black & White' interpretation. Queenland & Australia should be absolutely disgraced!! This needs to go to the UN. This stuff happened 200 years ago - maybe we'll recognise this in another 200 yrs!!<br /><br />I wonder if a White 'Royal Commission' would provide anymore insight than this plain english 'Chris Graham article. What more facts are required. <br /><br />This stinks!!!<br /><br />Disappointed,<br /><br />Sad Barry<br /><br />I'll be watching 4Corners tonight - again to be disappointed at our apparteid & inconsistant policing system. Community should be expecting 100% more from our men in blue & our hot air politians!! Unfortunately this story seems to be all to familier.

Thankyou for your informed ‘Black & White’ interpretation. Queenland & Australia should be absolutely disgraced!! This needs to go to the UN. This stuff happened 200 years ago - maybe we’ll recognise this in another 200 yrs!!

I wonder if a White ‘Royal Commission’ would provide anymore insight than this plain english ‘Chris Graham article. What more facts are required.

This stinks!!!

Disappointed,

Sad Barry

I’ll be watching 4Corners tonight - again to be disappointed at our apparteid & inconsistant policing system. Community should be expecting 100% more from our men in blue & our hot air politians!!

]]> By: CTW http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7356 CTW Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7356 Queensland, not 20 years behind but actually 200 it seems.<br /><br />Where is Anna or Judy on this one? Seems politics and police only go together when there is an upside.<br /><br />The decent, honest cops left in QLD must be hanging their heads in shame, all ten of them. Queensland, not 20 years behind but actually 200 it seems.

Where is Anna or Judy on this one? Seems politics and police only go together when there is an upside.

The decent, honest cops left in QLD must be hanging their heads in shame, all ten of them.

]]> By: Lucy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7357 Lucy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7357 Excellent recap. I don't remember feeling this angry about events - ever, really. It's just appalling. Sometimes it feels like we've gone backwards. This sounds like an incident from apartheid South Africa, or Jim Crow era United States. What are we doing? Why is this happening? Excellent recap. I don’t remember feeling this angry about events - ever, really. It’s just appalling. Sometimes it feels like we’ve gone backwards. This sounds like an incident from apartheid South Africa, or Jim Crow era United States. What are we doing? Why is this happening?

]]> By: Chris Johnson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/27/the-black-and-white-of-a-palm-island-tragedy/#comment-7358 Chris Johnson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7358 What a goose Kevin Rudd now looks after the theatrics of February 13 and the landmark apology. We are sorry for inflicting "profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians”. Shame he didn’t look back over his shoulder at the hapless state of his heritage. Our PM is more than familiar with the culture of Queensland and its law-unto-itself practices particularly in the area of human rights. For years he's rubbed shoulders with those linked to flawed administrative bungles from children in state care to deaths in public hospitals and a Premier who left the state struggling with civil rights. Rudd needs to reflect on his words earlier in the year and cancel the so-called bravery awards. He needs to call a full inquiry as he offers his heartfelt regrets to Mr Wotton and the people of Palm Island. It shouldn’t be too difficult since his speech writers have already penned “we are sorry for the indignity and degradation inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture”. What a goose Kevin Rudd now looks after the theatrics of February 13 and the landmark apology. We are sorry for inflicting “profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians”. Shame he didn’t look back over his shoulder at the hapless state of his heritage. Our PM is more than familiar with the culture of Queensland and its law-unto-itself practices particularly in the area of human rights. For years he’s rubbed shoulders with those linked to flawed administrative bungles from children in state care to deaths in public hospitals and a Premier who left the state struggling with civil rights. Rudd needs to reflect on his words earlier in the year and cancel the so-called bravery awards. He needs to call a full inquiry as he offers his heartfelt regrets to Mr Wotton and the people of Palm Island. It shouldn’t be too difficult since his speech writers have already penned “we are sorry for the indignity and degradation inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture”.

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