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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=587472706-19122006></SPAN>D<SPAN
class=587472706-19122006>ear Members</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=587472706-19122006></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=587472706-19122006>Below is the press
release put out NTEU by <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Terry Mason Chair
NTEU Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee, over last weeks
decision by the Queensland DPP to not bring charges over the death of
Mulrunji Doomagee on Palm Island in November 2004.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=587472706-19122006><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=587472706-19122006><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
color=#000000>Chris</FONT> </SPAN></SPAN><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Palm Island Findings a "Farce"<O:P></O:P></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Queensland Director of
Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare finding that the death of Palm Island resident
Mulrunji Doomagee in November 2004 while in Police custody was a "terrible
accident", are a "farce" NTEU Indigenous Committee Chair Mr Terry Mason said.
<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
findings by the QLD DPP contradict those made by the Deputy State Coroner
Christine Clements who found that Mr Doomagee suffered four broken ribs, a
ruptured portal vein and severely split liver as result of being struck during
what has been described as a watch-house scuffle involving the
Police.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> "At any level you examine this, there is clearly a
massive failure of duty of care by the Police that has led to this tragedy, and
this has not been recognised in any way by the DPP findings" Mr
Mason stated.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"It
is a disgrace that after ten years of Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in
Custody and 339 recommendations, our people are still dying in Police lockups in
2004"…Mr Mason said.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> "The NTEU would like to offer support to the Palm
Island Community in this time of sadness and urge as many people as possible to
participate in the rallies organised to protest this
outrage".<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">There will be a rally at 12:00pm in Queens Park, cnr
George & Elizabeth St, Brisbane and also at 12:00pm at Queensland Travel
Centre, 405 Bourke Street Melbourne.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We
also urge as many people as possible to write to Premier Beattie expressing
their concern about proper justice for the Palm Island people and the family of
Mr Doomagee.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
inconsistency of the DPP and State Coroner findings we believe warrant further
independent investigation and we call on the QLD State Government to establish
such an inquiry Mr Mason said.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><O:P></O:P></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For more information
contact:<O:P></O:P></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mr Terry Mason<BR>Chair<BR>NTEU Indigenous Tertiary
Education Policy Committee - 0402 216
273<O:P></O:P></SPAN></I></B></P></BODY></HTML>