Dark Waves Media

QLD INDIGENOUS NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

Monday, 29 March 2010 09:46

0 Comments The federal and state governments are taking away land, the economic base and self management in Indigenous communities in north Queensland, according to the Federal member for Kennedy, Bob Katter. The Queensland and federal government require Indigenous communities to sign over 40-year leases on their land in order to have new houses built. Mr Katter says the government is manipulating Indigenous communities into an untenable situation. Voice of Bob Katter: Council's income comes from the rent or rates, whatever you like to call it from the houses, but if half the houses are now owned by the state government, administered by the state government and the rent and rates are going to the state government, then of course the money is not going to a first Australian person, to a Murri person. There is no point in having the council in there, I mean if half of the area is now being administered by state government then what's the purpose in having the council. Not only are they taking land away but their also taking away self management.

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 NIRS - Indigenous groups angry over gas deal

Monday, 29 March 2010 12:10

0 Comments Indigenous groups have accused the Queensland Government and resources firms involved in a $60 billion natural gas deal of ripping them off. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Wednesday signed an agreement to buy $60 billion in LNG from Britain's BG Group developing a coal seam gas-to-LNG project in Gladstone. The development will include a 450km pipeline from the Surat Basin to Gladstone. Members of the Port Curtis Coral Coast Native Title Claim Group, whose claim area covers about 19,000 square kilometres around Bundaberg and Gladstone, say they are entitled to a spin-off from the project, which will earn the government $200 million a year in royalties. The LNG plant will be built off Gladstone's coast on Curtis Island, which is home to sacred Indigenous sites used for ceremonial purposes.                                ***************************************

ABC - QUEENSLAND, March 24, 2010: A fourth death in custody in just over a month in Queensland has sparked calls for a Royal Commission inquiry.

Police say a 41-year-old man died in the Rockhampton watchhouse on Tuesday morning.

"Initial investigations indicate the man was not breathing and unresponsive when checked by watchhouse personnel shortly after 2am (AEST)," police said in a statement.

Police and ambulance officers tried to revive the man but he was pronounced dead a short time later, the statement said.

A report will be prepared for the coroner and the police ethical standards command is investigating.

It's the latest in a string of deaths in custody in Queensland.

A 27-year-old male prisoner on remand for rape was found dead in his cell at Brisbane's Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on March 18.

On March 16, a 42-year-old child sex offender was found dead in his cell at Wolston Correctional Centre in Brisbane's west.

And an 18-year-old Aboriginal man, on remand for motor vehicle and property offences at Arthur Gorrie, died in a Brisbane hospital on February 20.

His family claims his requests for medical help in jail were denied.

Debbie Kilroy from the group Sisters Inside told ABC Radio a Royal Commission was needed.

"It seems like the deaths in custody are on the increase and that's a very concerning situation we have in Queensland," she said.

Indigenous activist Sam Watson wants a Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts says the cases are not related and did not reflect a wider problem.

"I can understand concern about the recent spate of deaths in custody in Queensland," Mr Roberts said.

"While some of the deaths remain under investigation, I understand a number are believed to be attributable to natural causes."

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers visited the scene of the latest death and said in a statement there was nothing to suggest officers have acted improperly.

"Usually those deaths (in custody) are not suspicious and are associated with the poor health of the prisoner," he said. -AAP 

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Man dies in Rockhampton watchhouse
Tuesday, 23 March 2010 11:35:28 AM

QUEENSLAND, March 23, 2010: Queensland police are investigating another death in custody - the fourth in just over a month.

Police say a 41-year-old man died in the Rockhampton Watchhouse on Tuesday morning.

"Initial investigations indicate the man was not breathing and unresponsive when checked by watchhouse personnel shortly after 2am (AEST)," police said in a statement.

Police and ambulance officers tried to revive the man but he was pronounced dead a short time later, the statement said.

A report will be prepared for the coroner and the police ethical standards command is investigating.

It's the latest in a spate of deaths in custody in Queensland.

A 27-year-old male prisoner on remand for rape was found dead in his cell at Brisbane's Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on March 18.

On March 16, a 42-year-old child sex offender was found dead in his cell at Wolston Correctional Centre in Brisbane's west.

And an 18-year-old Aboriginal man, on remand for motor vehicle and property offences at Arthur Gorrie, died in a Brisbane hospital on February 20.

His family claims his requests for medical help in jail were denied. - AAP

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