Wik elder speaks on Aurukun crisis
AN AURUKUN elder has called for a review into policing in the community and fears he will never return to his troubled home town.
Currently living in Townsville, Wik elder and director of the Cape York Land Council Jonathan Korkatain met displaced Aurukun residents in Cairns this week.
He and the CYLC board have called for an independent review of law and order in the Western Cape community.
He said police had applied a double standard at Aurukun by applying a “hands off” approach to indigenous violence in the community.
“Police are too slow to respond to phone calls about unrest or they do not come at all,” said Mr Korkatain, a former Aurukun councillor.
“Instead they watch the violence escalate on CCTV. They stand back or sit back in their car and video fights.”
It is understood several witnesses to a fight at Aurukun on January 1 alerted police before
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Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said, in what had been a tough time for many parts of the country, this year’s a 37-year-old man died. Two teens have been charged with his murder.
“When they called the police, they did not respond,” Mr Korkatain said. “I understand that police have to protect themselves, but there were serious things happening and they have to be there to stop it.”
He said a harder stance by police would be supported if action was carried out in conjunction with community engagement. awards were more relevant than ever, as a way of recognising the hardworking tourism operators and local businesses who make up the Far North Queensland tourism industry.
“Australians are spoiled for choice in Australia and our annual Aussie Town of the Year initiative is a fantastic opportunity
Mr Korkatain came face-toface with rioters on New Year’s Day.
“They stormed up to my house. They said ‘you are one of them’. I could see in their faces, that there was alcohol involved,” he said.
Mr Korkatain said the problem was compounded by lack of community leadership.
“There are no strong elders in the community,” he said.
Mr Korkatain is unlikely to return to Aurukun. to celebrate the many towns, cities and regions worthy of the spotlight,” he said.
Cairns’s ranking was based on the access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Proximity to world-heritage sites helped the status of Cairns as Australia’s nature capital.
Sources close to the CYLC have accused Aurukun Mayor Derek Walpo of inaction following the riot.
“He was in mourning but he should have done something, he should have supported the community,” a source said.
Mr Walpo said that despite his relation to the deceased man, he did not declare a conflict of interest after the death. He declined to comment further as Aurukun council was in “caretaker mode”.
A council spokeswoman said Mr Korkatain was invited to attend the ordinary council meeting on March 17 “to discuss their concerns and how the community may positively move forward”.
A Queensland Police spokesman said “the priority for police in violent confrontations is to de-escalate the situation while protecting the lives of everyone involved, including police officers”.
“Police are working closely with community leaders, elders and partner agencies to maintain calm and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all community members,” he said.