By Kitty Carra
A year ago this month, Australians for Native Title & Reconciliation (ANTaR Qld) released a media release and e bulletin entitled Rights, Justice and then Reconciliation.
At that point the family on Palm Island, and the broader Queensland
community, had been waiting a whole six years for a satisfactory
outcome on the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee.
One year later neither Hurley, nor any of the six other police
officers involved in bungling up the subsequent investigation, have
been held accountable for the tragic death of the perfectly healthy 36
year old man – a man who died within an hour of being taken into
custody by a Queensland Police Officer.
The sad truth is that Mulrunji should never have been arrested in the
first place, and if he hadn’t been, he would still be alive today. In
fact if Recommendation 87 of the now 20 year old Royal Commission into
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report had been implemented, the whole
sorry saga would have been avoided.
As supporters know ANTaR Qld, along with campaign partners Murri Watch
and ATSIWLAS have been meeting with the Premier, the Attorney General,
the Police and Corrective Services Minister, the Opposition and even
the Department of Education to agitate for something to be done. The
situation is desperate and even over the last eighteen months
incarceration rates have worsened, arrest charges have increased and
fines and late fee charges are crushing already disadvantaged families
beyond their ability to cope.
In our last newsletter I wrote about the need for action and not words
in relation to the growing crisis around the over incarceration of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children in
Queensland prisons. I blithely wrote that whether the solution lay in
the words “strategy” or “agreement” was irrelevant – what mattered was
action.
Well I was wrong. If the action is not preceded by the right words
then the only words that can be added later will be sorry words.
“Sorry we did it again” “Sorry we did not listen” “Sorry we did not
trust you”
This month the Queensland Government released the long awaited draft
justice strategy out for community consultation. A 65 page document
full of words accompanied by another two documents also filled with
words. Words that tell the story of the last decade of Qld style
justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and words
that make plans to make changes because changes must be made.
The release of the draft is a success for those of us who have been
lobbying for a replacement for the failed 2001-2011 Qld Justice
Strategy – or is it? At this point I honestly cannot tell. All of us,
you included, have until the 30th May to give feedback. At first
glance the analysis of what went wrong last time looks comprehensive,
the offered strategies look like they could be useful and the espoused
principles are laudable. And yet there remains a sense of unease.
I think it is that there is something missing. At first I was going to
say it was missing the application of the word justice but I think it
is more than that. At this point the Draft Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Justice Strategy 2011 - 2014 is also missing the
application of the words rights and reconciliation. In the words of a
Townsville Elder, “When I read this I feel like I am living back in the
old mission days”.
It is not too late.
In the proverb of “be careful of what you ask for”, the moral is - use
your words wisely and make sure you ask for the right thing. We will
do that and so should you. Let us all ask where are the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander voices in this new strategy? How does the
strategy enshrine dignity and human rights? How does it reflect the
concept of justice as we all know it to be - an outcome of both
fairness and equality? And finally we must ask – is it enough and will
it work?
Perhaps if we choose our words carefully enough, express what is
needed in terms that cannot be misinterpreted and are heard by those
who care – perhaps then we will all actually get what we are all
actually asking for.
Kitty Carra BA BCom
0409 548 892
kittycarra@gmail.com
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I acknowledge the Turrubal, Jagera and
Yuggera people, traditional owners
of the land on which Brisbane is situated.
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Sea of Hands
Bridge Walks
Closing the Gap
Comments
Re: Be careful of what you ask for
Prisons, An Inconvenient Truth?
Even some of the most vicious and low-life crims in jail
are being encouraged to feel the “Real Victims”
There is now a Massive “Prison Welfare Industry” catering to this.
It used to be, "Do the Crime - Do the Time"
With "No Sympathy". And this was "Understood"
and "Accepted" by the inmates.
Many of them caused a lot of "Pain and Suffering"
to a lot of "Good People".
My experience and observation over years was that
90% of the prison population deserved to be there.
I did the Prison Programme when employed as a Counsellor
with QAIAS and assisted with parole applications.
I also spent a few Early Years in Prisons.
As a lot of us did when Cherbourg was deregulated
in the sixties. Not because we were "Crims"
or had "Criminal Intentions". We simply had some issues adjusting to a different way of life
when we moved to Brisbane. And, "We All Moved On".
The inmates of today are certainly a "Different Kettle of Fish".
Many "Hardened Criminals" with 20 or more convictions for car theft, burglary or break and enter and destruction of property,
And with "No Respect" for "Anything or Anyone".
Including the "Elderly" and other Aboriginals.
Quite a few for "Vicious Assaults".
On "Women" and even "Children".
Many spruik "Aboriginal Rights" but are "Ignorant"
on the "Rights" of "Other People" in the Community
whom need to be "Protected" from them.
This being why they are in jail.
Many are “Repeat Offenders”.
Definitely not “Innocent Victims” and
“Traffic fine Defaulters”
As the “Aboriginal Victim Industry” ( AVI )
including the “Out of Touch” and
“Misguided Moral Postures” ANTaR and Others,
would have us believe. ( 6/6/2009 alb.)
extract from www.whitc.info
Re: Be careful of what you ask for
At that point the family on Palm Island,
and “the broader Queensland community”
had been waiting a whole six years for a satisfactory outcome on the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee”
Kitty, I am one of the “Broader Queensland Community” and I haven't been waiting “a whole six years” for a satisfactory outcome on the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee. I know many many people in Queensland. Black, White and Brindle.
Young, Old and Middle Aged. And I see, meet with and talk to people on a daily basis. Not one of them told me or, indicated to me, that they were one of the people that you refer to as, "waiting".
In fact, human nature being what it is, and it is sad,
but to most Queenslanders or even, most people, yesterdays news is today's fish and chips wrapper.
And people will only remember when it is in the news again. Unfortunately. Now what happened was a terrible thing. And I personally feel that Hurley should be doing at least ten ( 10 ) years !
You seem like a nice person Kitty and I have no doubt that you have good intentions and with a good heart. But we all know about “good intentions” and the “Road to Hell” being “paved” with them ! But these
Broad-Sweeping and All-Encompassing and "Misleading Statements" about the “Broader Queensland Community” waiting, are "Unfair" and even, "Silly" ! And are “Unhelpful” to “The Cause”
My observations and experience with ANTaR is that a lot of the people that sign up and volunteer are, “rebels without a cause” and many,
“bored people” with “a lot of time on their hands”
Some are said to be “Middle Class Moral Postures”
But as I have previously stated, I have
“no doubt” that many “good people” are involved.
But there are also “Professional Agitators” and “Professional Activists” involved.
People that have “no interest” and “no agenda” and even, “no desire” for a harmonious and inclusive society.
People that seek to Promote and to Perpetuate,
Ethnic Division and to Confirm the “Victim Status” and “Mentality” of Aboriginal People. The “Aboriginal Victim Industry” people. ( AVI )
And they are “Dangerous” people.
“Dangerous” to our “future” and our “way of life”
in this Country. And Unfortunately,
these people “Influence” ANTaR “Policy”and “Direction” With 'No Solutions” to offer to the “Ongoing Problems” that beset and plague this “Society and Country”
Townsville Elder,
“When I read this I feel like I am living back in the
old mission days”.
Kitty, I won't go into this to much, but the simple fact is that the fondest memories and of the happiest times that many Aboriginal People have, including myself, is from the days and lifetimes spent on these so-called “Missions” Where there was always,
“Order, Security and Certainty”
“fines and late fee charges are crushing already disadvantaged families beyond their ability to cope”
This is AVI rhetoric and Crap !
These days “The State Penalties Enforcement Registry”
(known as SPER) will accept twenty dollars ( $20 )
a fortnight from the DOLE or Pension for
thousands of dollars worth of fines !
And “I Challenge You Kitty” to Produce “One Family" !
I know you can't and won't, simply because you don't know any families in these circumstances, you are merely repeating and writing what you have been told or advised to by the AVI.To add some "Impact" or "Oomph" ! And "Again" seeking to "Mislead" the "Broader Community"