CALL FOR CALM AS RESTRICTIONS SPARK PROTESTS

POLICE were called in to break up an angry protest of up to 30 people outside Yarrabah’s council building yesterday as tensions in the indigenous community rise over ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews and chief executive Leon Yeatman were forced to address the crowd who were chanting and waving signs reading “stop oppression” and “justice and equality”.

Yarrabah remains in lockdown as part of the Biosecurity Act during the virus crisis as indigenous communities were declared vulnerable and a roadblock remains set up preventing non-essential access.

The easing of restrictions that took effect over the weekend did not apply in these vulnerable communities.

Mayor Ross Andrews said the restrictions had caused “frustration” in the community, but he urged residents to “try to be a bit more understanding”.

“We did go out and do our best in extremely difficult circumstances to try and get some messaging across,” he said. “There is a level of frustration that has built up over many, many weeks and they were letting those frustrations out. Confrontations aren’t helpful, but we’ve got to do our best as a leadership to answer questions.”

The protest came after the Yarrabah clinic was forced to close its doors following a rock-throwing incident.

A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service confirmed the clinic was shut from 9pm Monday night, through to 7am yesterday.

Mr Andrews said he understood the rock throwing was not linked to the protest.