ANTaR Queensland calls on Premier Bligh to establish a royal commission into circumstances surrounding Mulrunji Doomadgee’s sudden death in police custody in 2004.

ANTaR Qld President, Ms Monique Bond, said that the royal commission must also examine the behaviour of police in the two days after Mr Doomadgee’s death was discovered.

“I attended the inquest chaired by Coroner Clements, and I was shocked by how the investigating police had behaved. Tony Koch described the investigation as ‘disgracefully inadequate and shoddy’ in the Australian (20 Dec 08),” Ms Bond said.

The events since November 2004 have given a definite impression that in Queensland the death of an Aboriginal man from horrific injuries while in police custody, is not treated as a serious issue.

“Contrary to standard procedures, the police watch house where Mulrunji died was not treated as a crime scene. Police who were potential witnesses were treated as ‘mates’ rather than as important witnesses,” Ms Bond said.

“In contrast the police showed great zeal in investigating anybody who might have been involved in the 26th November ‘riot’ during which the police station was set on fire.”

Ms Bond said that the contrast between the investigation of the death in police custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee and of the alleged rioters was startling.

“These events give an impression that the violent death of an Aboriginal man in police custody is not important; whereas property damage during a ‘riot’ is.”

ANTaR supports the call of Townsville MP Mike Reynolds, Criminologist Professor Paul Wilson, lawyer Andrew Boe, journalist Tony Koch and many others for a royal commission.

Ms Bond said that ANTaR Queensland will continue to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and many thousands of Queenslanders; all committed to seeing justice done.

Media Contact: Monique Bond 0417 764 653