Today in Crikey Chris Graham writes that the latest Palm Island inquest is “being watched by Aboriginal people around the nation for one simple reason: it represents the best chance yet for justice over an Aboriginal death in custody”.
That’s not saying much.
Giving new meaning to the term low base, the most recent inquest into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee — an Aboriginal man killed in the Palm Island Police Station in 2004 — actually represents a win of sorts for indigenous people.
After all, Chris Hurley was the first police officer in history to face trial over the death in custody of an Aboriginal man.
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody looked into the deaths of 99 Aboriginal people. No one was ever charged over a single death.
When it comes to Palm Island, at least people are paying attention.
A damning comment on how effectively the justice system serves indigenous Australians if ever there was one.
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