Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in Australia

"Following the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Reports there a was a massive ground swell of public opinion and sentiment in middle white Australia towards really creating and changing the cultural discrimination that had developed over decades towards Aborignal people culminating Sydney Harbour Bridge reconciliation walk..."

Australian Aboriginals are overepresented as a percentage of the population in Gaol. Deaths in Custody of Australian Aboriginals are high.

Australia's reputation for Aboriginal deaths in Custody is at best atrocious and worst a dam right criminal scandal.

Not so long ago it was revealed by no less than the CMC (Crime and Misconduct Commission, Queensland)) that the Death in a Palm Island Watch- House of Aboriginal man Cameron Doomadgee. Not only was Cameron Doomadgee killed allegedly at the hands of a Queensland Police Sergeant.

It has been revealed today that there has been a concerted attempt since his death in 2004 to cover it up. By 'doctoring' the evidence presented to an Inquiry. Not only that the orders came from the top echelon's of the Queensland Police Service in Roma Street Brisbane Headquarters.

"Any reasonable understanding of the evidence given at the many hearings into Doomadgee's death comes to the inevitable conclusion that most of the police involved were concerned only with covering for themselves and for their mate, Chris Hurley. Mr Hine said as much."

This is 147th 'death in custody 'of an Aboriginal person since the the Federal Government had a Royal Commission Over twenty years ago to examine the atrocious aspect of the over representation of Aboriginals in custody. . Twenty years on and not much has changed. This is despite hundreds of recommendations in the final report in the Royal Commissions findings. Some of the many recommendations were in fact implemented but the Aboriginal community remain very highly ranked in world terms as far as both deaths in custody and the over representation generally in Australian prisons and Police Lock-up's.

The CMC latest report claims the people of Palm Island, the wider indigenous community and the ``public generally'' have been let down. And it is set to be particularly critical of the apparent failure of investigating officers to be seen as impartial.

The CMC have found the investigation into the death of Doomadgee, also known as Mulrunji, was seriously flawed and its integrity gravely compromised in the eyes of the community. Mulrunji was found dead in a cell less than an hour after his arrest and a scuffle in Palm Island watch-house on November 19, 2004. Sen-Sgt Chris Hurley was tried and acquitted of the manslaughter of Mulrunji in 2007, admitting that his knee may have come into contact with Mulrunji's stomach in a complicated fall. The death infamously sparked riots on the island three days later when the police station was burnt to the ground.

The long-awaited CMC report, which explores the initial police investigation and subsequent internal investigation, is due to be released next week after Deputy Chief Magistrate Brian Hine hands down the findings of a third thats right third coronial inquiry into Doomadgee's death. The report has accused the Ethical Standards Command officers of running a biased investigation to protect other police. It is alleged that witnesses were guided in their answers in interviews, Some were provided in advance with copies of the questions they were to be asked.

A further allegation is that some key witnesses were not even interviewed by the officers, privately described by Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson as among his "most respected".The Queensland Police Commissioned Officers Union is considering legal action to stop publication of the report.

The CMC report is set to attack police ``double standards'' and the apparent culture of officers protecting other police.

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The Chief Commissioner of Queensland Police Bob Atkinson will be urged to act immediately to restore public trust in the police service opening the way for a royal commission.
It is understood the harshest criticism is reserved for officers who headed the investigation into police. High-ranking officers are said will escape criminal charges but be fined, demoted, or dismissed.

The CMC believes officers protected other police from blame. Four officers are believed to be facing disciplinary action for official misconduct over the initial Palm Island investigation.Another two officers are likely to face disciplinary action for negligence in failing to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of the initial QPS investigation.

A CMC spokeswoman said the QPS had had until April 30 to provide feedback to the draft report under the procedural fairness process.

The situation for Aboriginals in other States of Australia is similar to that of Queensland