Qld: Report details third world conditions on Palm Island

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2006
Qld: Report details third world conditions on Palm Island

By Nikki Todd, State Political Correspondent

BRISBANE, April 21 AAP - Queensland's Aboriginal community of Palm Island, once dubbed
the most violent place on earth outside a war zone, has been labelled "third world" in
a new report.

The independent report, Palm Island: Future Directions, found the island is picture
perfect but its 2,500 mainly indigenous residents have dire living conditions.

"No one can visit Palm Island and leave untouched by the stark contrasts of the stunning
natural beauty of the island and the third world conditions under which many of its residents
are compelled to live," the report tabled in parliament today said.

"Despair, despondency and poverty have marred the lives of many in the community."

The report was commissioned by the Queensland government after violent riots broke
out on the island, off Townsville, following the death of Aboriginal man Mulrunji Doomadgee
while in police custody in November 2004.

It calls for urgent government action to help the community improve living conditions,
which is hampered by a "debilitating" employment rate of just 10 per cent.

A recent housing audit showed between nine and 17 people were living in more than a
quarter of the homes in the Aboriginal community.

"After years of successive reports and planning processes the time has come for the
Palm Island community and the Queensland and federal governments to jointly act to change
living standards on the island," the report said.

It called for changes to land ownership regulations, a transfer of housing responsibility
to a specialist entity and targeted economic development.

Outlining a "siege mentality" between police and islanders, it called for leadership
from government and the community to improve policing and deliver a safe and stable environment.

It also called for police to vacate the government's new $5.5 million Police Citizens
Youth Club (PCYC) within the next 12 months.

Labelling some of the language in the report as "over the top", Premier Peter Beattie
acknowledged there were problems in the community.

"There are difficulties in that community, we all understand that," Mr Beattie said.

"We will work with that community, but we have a long way to go."

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Minister John Mickel said many of the
recommendations were already being considered under the government's five point plan to
address problems on the island.

AAP nt/sc/cjh/sd

KEYWORD: PALM

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