Brown visits Palm Island as Street Report is Released

Greens Leader Bob Brown who is in Townsville this morning, and will be on Palm Island for the rest of the day, has welcomed Justice Street's recommendation that charges be laid against Senior Sergeant Hurley.

"The Aboriginal community is celebrating. The Street recommendation will return a sense of justice, not just for Aboriginal Australians, but for all Australians. This nation could have had no pride in the system which laid no charges over an indigenous death in police custody, but at the same time had a mother of four in jail and separated from her children for damaging the bricks and mortar of the police station," Senator Brown said.

This news will also restore the right of police officers around Australia to have pride in what they do for all Australians. That pride can only rest on knowing that justice is the same for police officers as every other citizen.

On Palm Island Senator Brown will assure the indigenous community that the Greens are committed to turning around the appalling health, education and housing statistics which make the First Australians second rate in their own land.

"If we regain the balance of power in the Senate in this year's elections the Greens will use that power to insist that spending on Aboriginal people in these areas be lifted to at least the same level it is for all other Australians, whoever is in Government," Senator Brown said.

In an earlier statement in Townsville today, Greens Leader Bob Brown marked Australia
Day by calling for all political parties to jointly work to lift Aboriginal health from its current 'Third World' status.

"The average First Australian dies 17 years short of the age other Australians can expect to live to (83 for women, 78 for men)," Senator Brown said.

"Yet less is spent on health programs, education or housing for Aborigines than other Australians. The Greens will work with any other party or government which pledges to end this deadly discrimination," Senator Brown said.

"Surely the 17 year loss of Aboriginal life can be fixed in 17 years."

Later today Senator Brown will revisit Palm Island to join the community for its Bwgcolman Survival Day.