Queensland Palm Island Death in Custody
January 9th 2007 13:08
As I have previously written a few blogs on the issue of the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions and her handling of the " Palm Island Aboriginal death in Custody Case" and I have not been around to update what was happening I thought i would relay my take on events that have taken place since my last blog.
Following rallies held around Australia and Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie's visit to Palm Island , where he publicly announced that he would support the DPP if she was to have an independent review of the matter, much political to and fro-ing has taken place.
Firstly the Queensland DPP, Leanne Clare rebuked Premier Beattie”s public statement by saying that regardless of any review no one in her office would touch the case as they had already determined that the case could not succeed.
Then a day or two latter the Attorney-General, Kerry Shine announced that the DPP had delivered to him all her papers on the matter and this had enabled him to be in the position to conduct an independent review of the matter.
Mr Shine stressed he had not sought these papers from the DPP and in fact the papers had turned up without him expecting them.
Once again however the DPP released a statement saying she had given the documents to the attorney at his request.
The Attorney then announced he would establish a review of the DPP's finding and latter appointed former judge Pat Shanahan to head the review.
The government was then embarrassed by the revelation that the former judge had been on the panel that selected the DPP for her job. With a very obvious conflict of interest exposed Mr Shanahan resigned from the review.
His place was taken by inquiry veteran respected former NSW chief justice Sir Laurence Street who was appointed this week.
The government has not come out of this looking very competent or in control at all. The DPP is taking swipes at public comments being made by the Government and they seem unable to approach this issue without being forced into back downs all along the way. They firstly say they cannot interfere and then seem to do exactly that and then they seem unable to show any signs of good management when it came to appointing someone for the review.
Justice Street does however seem to be a good choice to head the review. He is not from Queensland and comes to the review with much experience in both legal and political inquiries.
There is an old saying though in politics and that is never call an inquiry if you don't know what the outcomes will be. Although many would argue it will be hard for Justice Street not to come out in supporting the DPP's but the question must be where does the Government go from there?
The fact will still remain that the Indigenous community has lost any faith they had in the Justice system and they have never had any confidence in the Police force. These are the areas the government must address.
Following rallies held around Australia and Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie's visit to Palm Island , where he publicly announced that he would support the DPP if she was to have an independent review of the matter, much political to and fro-ing has taken place.
Firstly the Queensland DPP, Leanne Clare rebuked Premier Beattie”s public statement by saying that regardless of any review no one in her office would touch the case as they had already determined that the case could not succeed.
Then a day or two latter the Attorney-General, Kerry Shine announced that the DPP had delivered to him all her papers on the matter and this had enabled him to be in the position to conduct an independent review of the matter.
Mr Shine stressed he had not sought these papers from the DPP and in fact the papers had turned up without him expecting them.
Once again however the DPP released a statement saying she had given the documents to the attorney at his request.
The Attorney then announced he would establish a review of the DPP's finding and latter appointed former judge Pat Shanahan to head the review.
The government was then embarrassed by the revelation that the former judge had been on the panel that selected the DPP for her job. With a very obvious conflict of interest exposed Mr Shanahan resigned from the review.
His place was taken by inquiry veteran respected former NSW chief justice Sir Laurence Street who was appointed this week.
The government has not come out of this looking very competent or in control at all. The DPP is taking swipes at public comments being made by the Government and they seem unable to approach this issue without being forced into back downs all along the way. They firstly say they cannot interfere and then seem to do exactly that and then they seem unable to show any signs of good management when it came to appointing someone for the review.
Justice Street does however seem to be a good choice to head the review. He is not from Queensland and comes to the review with much experience in both legal and political inquiries.
There is an old saying though in politics and that is never call an inquiry if you don't know what the outcomes will be. Although many would argue it will be hard for Justice Street not to come out in supporting the DPP's but the question must be where does the Government go from there?
The fact will still remain that the Indigenous community has lost any faith they had in the Justice system and they have never had any confidence in the Police force. These are the areas the government must address.
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