2004 Palm Island Death in Custody - Police Union and Aboriginal Activists

Police Union and Aboriginal Activists

Soon after the riot the Queensland Police Union President Denis Fitzpatrick demanded the rioters be charged with attempted murder of 12 police. The police who had been stationed on the island indicated through the Union that they did not wish to return. Former Premier Wayne Goss dismissed as "cheap politics" the union's demand for attempted murder charges to be laid, he said their comments since the death in custody had been consistently unhelpful. Later in the documentary The Tall Man Lisa Watson the Indigenous Liaison Officer of the Crime and Misconduct Commission stated that a cameraman came rushing in and said "We've got to get off the Island. They are going to kill the first white people they see." However there was no indication that the cameraman's comment was based on solid evidence.

After the alleged rioters were granted bail Denis Fitzpatrick criticized the magistrate's decision to grant bail saying that the safety of the community had been put last and that the decision amounted to a "betrayal" of the police. His comment was criticized as hypocritical and systematic of "one rule for us and one for whites and that's a racist legal system where the cops get their way" by Burketown Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner and relative of the Doomadgee family who was at the centre of controversy over his calls for Aboriginals to bash all "racist cops" and for all police stations to be burnt. Yanner said that Hurley was no racist, that he was loved by the Indigenous communities he had previously worked in, and that he identified with Hurley in that "he was a thug and a mug. I am the same", and that they would both respond with fists when confronted or challenged, portraying a cop who some years ago had confronted and overcome his own inherent racism while working in the Torres Strait. Yanner said his anger was with the legal system in general and particularly the police's role in justice for Indigenous people, saying that Chris Hurley was an exception to these problems, but that he had probably gone too far in giving Mulrunji a hiding.

Sen. Sgt. Chris Hurley received a confidential payout of A$100,000 from the Queensland Government in February 2005.

The Queensland Government agreed to provide a confidential payout of A$370,000 to Mulrunji's family in May 2011.

In mid-February 2005 Chris Hurley resumed duties after three months on paid leave. He was appointed to a duty officer position at the Broadbeach police station on the Gold Coast, effectively a promotion.

When Coroner Barnes disqualified himself from the inquiry the QPU called for him to be sacked immediately from the position of state coroner for the indiscretion of drinking with one of the lawyers during the inquest.

After Coroner Clements made her findings but before they were overturned by the District and Supreme Courts as being inconsistent with the evidence QPU President Gary Wilkinson was highly critical. As a result he was charged with contempt of court by the Attorney General. Wilkinson later publicly apologised and pleaded guilty to the contempt. He was ordered to pay costs with no other punishment.

After the Attorney Generals decision to prosecute was made public members of the Union held rallies in every major city in Queensland protesting against the political intervention, and in support of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.

The Police Union were apparently incensed that a police officer should be the first person in Queensland since the public prosecutor's office was established to be indicted based on a decision of someone other than the DPP and argued that it amounted to political interference in the Justice System. After the trial concluded the Union released advertisements against the Beattie Queensland government, comparing the government to Robert Mugabe and his government. More specifically the ad stated: "Zimbabwe is a good example of what could happen where politicians override the laws to suit themselves."