Doomadgee investigation
The handling of the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island is becoming more farcical every day. DPP Leanne Clare is sticking to her assertion that “the evidence does not support a prosecution.” So, is she arrogant, incompetent or just stupid? Perhaps a successful prosecution isn’t viable, but this is a sensitive issue encompassing politics, perceptions of institutional racism and the treatment of indigenous Australians. The guilt of Senior Sergeant Hurley is not for the DPP to decide. It is for such matters that a formal justice system exists, comprised of judges and juries who have the proper responsibility of determining legal guilt.
Yet it is becoming apparent that this case is symbolic of an anti-Aboriginal bias in the Queensland government and police. Premier Beattie has just announced that every indigenous death in custody will now be investigated by an ethical standards branch of the Police. Too little, too late. Would the decision to investigate such deaths ever have been announced if the current matter had not become a political hot potato? This should have been introduced years ago, anyway. In a just world, however, the investigations would extend to all deaths (indigenous or otherwise) in custody, and by a body independent of the Queensland Police.
So why doesn’t Peter Beattie make his Attorney-General override the DPP’s decision? Why doesn’t he sack Leanne Clare for making her own judgements rather than allowing the courts to? Why are education and healthcare services to remote Aboriginal communities in such a terrible state? Institutional racism is alive and kicking in Queensland and, it would seem, extends right up to the Premier. For how much longer can Australian governments go on treating Australian citizens in this manner? Where is the justice?