If indigenous people concur with as Noel Pearson (see his interview with Peter Cave on 15 December 2006 below), it is understandable why there are demands for a broader review by an independent commission.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1812217.htm

I just checked the ABS census population numbers for Palm Island. According to that source there are just about 2,100 people living there, not very many.

see

http://www.communityrenewal.qld.gov.au/communities/operate/palm_island.shtm

The Courier Mail says 3,500.

Another source says around 2,500. All in all, not too dissimilar to the numbers on Norfolk Island.

All sources describe it as a social disaster, with high rates of violence, STDs, poor health, nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse.

It is clear that trying to maintain a strong police presence, or indeed any police presence, let alone health care and education, on the Island doesn't seem to help at all.

So maybe the Norfolk Island self-governing model could be adopted, moving away from the Island being run by the Qld govt and instead being a self-governing protectorate?

The Qld government should hand over all the money currently spent on maintaining the (corrupt, if who some have said is to be believed) police presence, and all other law enforcement measures, health, education and other public services, to a democratically elected council on the Island, who can appoint their own law enforcement officers, magistrates, prison officers and the like. The Qld government should perhaps also, if so requested by the council, build and fund a corrective facility, similar in concept to what is happening on Pitcairn Island at the moment. However, once built the Qld Govt should play no further part.

In essence, leave the Palm Island population to be their own masters, without further interference from external police and authority. The Island should probably receive more money from mainland governments, both State and Federal, probably up to the same levels as the average national weekly wage for each person who has been established on the Island, for say, 15 or 20 years, whether they are working or not. Let the council receive and distribute the money as it sees fit.

Hamlet, that is exactly what Palm Islander have been saying for years. Its good to read someone's interpretation of this call for independance.

Iain Hall,

Well it seems that not only do you know zilch about criminal law you also know less about copyright laws because you have breached both my copyright and I suspect that of The Forum/OLO.

I’m now going to kindly suggest you remove my comments forthwith from your silly blogg site now before I get all litigious and shirty.

I’m not going to bother citing the relevant clause in the rules here, but they are there in black and white for you to find: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/display.asp?page=legal

Actually Rainier

think of 'Escape from New York'

with money.

I'll get that one out from the vid shop Hamlet,

_________

Now that the retired Justice Pat Shanahan has tendered his resignation from reviewing the Palm Island case it proves conclusively that despite all the talk about fidelity to black letter law, the incestuous culture in the Queensland legal system is proving to be its most dangerous liability.

This is a culture of legal cronyism that goes back decades,via families, clubs and societies and an old boys club connected to university law schools.

When you have police investigating police supported by lawyers and judges who all know each other you can be assured there that the only independence that is practiced is an independence from any sense of social justice being delivered for all Queensland citizens.

EX-JUDGE QUITS REVIEW

A RETIRED Queensland judge appointed to review a decision not to charge a police officer over the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee has quit following accusations of a conflict of interest.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20977454-3102,00.html

TRAVESTY !

Not since the late Bjelke Petersen's corrupt manipulation of the Judiciary, Police service, and Indigenous Affair's has the travesty of Injustice of such magnitude been perpetrated on the good citizen's of Queensland.

The DPP under the Directorship of Leanne Clare has unequivocally been caught out. Yet again. Zero tolerance, three strikes (i) Jailing of Pauline Hanson (ii) Jailing of Chief Magistrate Di Fingleton (iii) Abrogation of charges against Scott Volker, despite overwhelming sworn testimony to the contrary (iv) Refusal to support a conviction of Sgt Hurley, despite a Coronial Inquest which suggest otherwise. Whatever next ?

It is manifestly clear : " something is rotten in Denmark " Apocryphal ? It just happens the Fitzgerald Inquiry, for all it's grandeur, achieved little. The litany of malfeasance, ineptitude and sleaziness is alive and well. Our ' smart ' State image slighly tarnished. Our Police State unchanged. Our Judiciary seemingly in limbo.

Key issue : whether Doomadgee was killed or died by ' tragic ' accident ?

Counsellor Peter Callaghan, in his final submission at the Coronial Inquest stated : " correct legislature procedure would have seen Doomadgee charged with resisting arrest and assulting Police. He was NOT. In Hurley's eye's there was no need. Summary justice was administered to Mulrunji Doomadgee as he lay on the floor of the watch house ".

Video depicts captured Sgt Michael Leafe giving the body of MJ a swift kick. Why wasn't CPR administered ? What was Policewoman Tracy Twaddle hiding, when challenged about her implication, as to whether Hurley told her certain things ? Why did Hurley give a different account on four occasions while under oath ? Why wasn't he cautioned ?

Forensic evidence : 4 broken ribs and his liver was ' cleaved ' almost in two - in fact hanging together only by a couple of blood vessels - clear evidence caused by a compression injury causing a rupture. He quickly bled to death !

to be continued :