Published Wednesday, 10 January, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Acting Premier welcomes joint Police and CMC investigation into Aurukun disturbance.
Acting Premier Anna Bligh said today that a joint Qld Police and Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation was the most appropriate way of ensuring the Aurukun disturbance was fully and transparently investigated.
“The Minister for Communities, Warren Pitt and I have this morning received a detailed briefing from the Acting Police Commissioner on yesterday’s events at Aurukun.
“I am pleased that the Acting Commissioner, Dick Conder has announced that an investigation into allegations that a person in police custody was assaulted, will be carried out by Brisbane based police from the Ethical Standards Command and officers from the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
“Initial reports indicate that confusion and misinformation about the arrest of a local man led to the disturbance.
“Violence and lawlessness can not be condoned in any community and a full investigation into the riot will also be conducted and anyone involved in the destruction of property will be charged accordingly.
“However it is important that the Police/CMC investigation into the events of last night is undertaken in an urgent and transparent way.
“I would urge everyone within the Aurukun community to remain calm and to assist the joint investigation team in its work,” the Acting Premier said.
Ms Bligh said she has also asked the Communities Minister, who has responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, to ensure senior officers from his department were in Aurukun as soon as possible to work with local leaders to ensure the present calm situation remained.
“Police and officers from Communities will be meeting with community leaders as soon as possible.
“In the meantime I have also asked QBuild to have workers in Aurukun quickly to ensure that property damaged during last night’s disturbance is repaired and secured appropriately.
“I have also met this morning with Indigenous leaders including Sam Watson to ensure that they have full details, as we understand them, of yesterday’s events.
“Some 30 police are now at Aurukun to ensure that the present calm situation remains.
“The Acting Police Commissioner has also informed me that video tape of events within the Police Station has been secured and transferred to Cairns where it will be made available to the joint investigation team.
“With regard to the media reports that a man who was arrested by Aurukun police had taken ill while in custody I am told that Queensland Health medical staff twice assessed the individual.
“I understand from Queensland Health that on the first occasion the man was taken to the Aurukun Primary Health Care Clinic where he was fully assessed and released into Police custody.
“On the second occasion the man was clinically assessed by medical staff at the Cairns Base Hospital and again released into Police custody where he remains.”
Queensland Health’s District Manager has already arranged support services for staff at the Aurukun Primary Health Care Centre.
The clinic was surrounded by protesters but the clinic is undamaged and no clinic staff were harmed.
Staff are understandably anxious and tired because they didn't get much sleep last night.
Queensland Health District Manager has already arranged relief staff to come from other districts.
One nurse from Weipa will be arriving tomorrow (Thursday) to do shifts and give local staff a break and Cairns Base Hospital has also been asked to identify any staff that would be available to go to the community.
The Acting Premier said she had also been informed that Police had requested that the local canteen be closed for the immediate future.
“Yesterday’s events in Aurukun are a set-back for a community which has been working hard to improve the lives of its members over the past decade.
“The Minister for Communities and I will be working hard to ensure that the local Mayor and other community leaders receive all the assistance they need to get the community back to normal as soon as possible.”
For more information:
Acting Premier’s Office – 3224 6900
“The Minister for Communities, Warren Pitt and I have this morning received a detailed briefing from the Acting Police Commissioner on yesterday’s events at Aurukun.
“I am pleased that the Acting Commissioner, Dick Conder has announced that an investigation into allegations that a person in police custody was assaulted, will be carried out by Brisbane based police from the Ethical Standards Command and officers from the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
“Initial reports indicate that confusion and misinformation about the arrest of a local man led to the disturbance.
“Violence and lawlessness can not be condoned in any community and a full investigation into the riot will also be conducted and anyone involved in the destruction of property will be charged accordingly.
“However it is important that the Police/CMC investigation into the events of last night is undertaken in an urgent and transparent way.
“I would urge everyone within the Aurukun community to remain calm and to assist the joint investigation team in its work,” the Acting Premier said.
Ms Bligh said she has also asked the Communities Minister, who has responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, to ensure senior officers from his department were in Aurukun as soon as possible to work with local leaders to ensure the present calm situation remained.
“Police and officers from Communities will be meeting with community leaders as soon as possible.
“In the meantime I have also asked QBuild to have workers in Aurukun quickly to ensure that property damaged during last night’s disturbance is repaired and secured appropriately.
“I have also met this morning with Indigenous leaders including Sam Watson to ensure that they have full details, as we understand them, of yesterday’s events.
“Some 30 police are now at Aurukun to ensure that the present calm situation remains.
“The Acting Police Commissioner has also informed me that video tape of events within the Police Station has been secured and transferred to Cairns where it will be made available to the joint investigation team.
“With regard to the media reports that a man who was arrested by Aurukun police had taken ill while in custody I am told that Queensland Health medical staff twice assessed the individual.
“I understand from Queensland Health that on the first occasion the man was taken to the Aurukun Primary Health Care Clinic where he was fully assessed and released into Police custody.
“On the second occasion the man was clinically assessed by medical staff at the Cairns Base Hospital and again released into Police custody where he remains.”
Queensland Health’s District Manager has already arranged support services for staff at the Aurukun Primary Health Care Centre.
The clinic was surrounded by protesters but the clinic is undamaged and no clinic staff were harmed.
Staff are understandably anxious and tired because they didn't get much sleep last night.
Queensland Health District Manager has already arranged relief staff to come from other districts.
One nurse from Weipa will be arriving tomorrow (Thursday) to do shifts and give local staff a break and Cairns Base Hospital has also been asked to identify any staff that would be available to go to the community.
The Acting Premier said she had also been informed that Police had requested that the local canteen be closed for the immediate future.
“Yesterday’s events in Aurukun are a set-back for a community which has been working hard to improve the lives of its members over the past decade.
“The Minister for Communities and I will be working hard to ensure that the local Mayor and other community leaders receive all the assistance they need to get the community back to normal as soon as possible.”
For more information:
Acting Premier’s Office – 3224 6900