Queensland

Below is an article by Nathan Paull from the Townsville Bulletin which extensively quotes Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey on the indigenous communities reaction to the outrageous decision by the Qld police to not charge the police who sabotaged the investigation into Cameron "Mulrunji" Doomadgee death at the hands of police whilst in custody on Palm Island.

Up to 70 protesters have gathered at Tara to physically blockade the Queensland Gas Company workers moving in to build a gas pipeline. Some have climbed trees near a key access road, holding banners that say: "Don't gas Tara".

Others, including farmers, landowners and green groups, have rallied outside the company's Tara office.

Late last week Friends of the Earth Brisbane lodged an objection in the Queensland Land Court against development of a massive open cut coal mine proposed by Xstrata Coal for west of Wandoan in South West Queensland, citing the contribution this mine will make to severe weather events through greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.

Tropical Cyclone Yasi may become Queensland's second extreme weather disaster within a month, with the potential to rival the destructive power of Hurricane Katrina that destroyed New Orleans in 2005. Cyclone Yasi is likely to hit the Queensland coast as a Category 4 storm with winds of 250-260 km per hour on late Wednesday or early Thursday.