The dust barely settles as it drifts across thousands of spectators circled around traditional dancers from Groote Eylandt kicking up a storm this weekend in the remote NT community of Barunga.
Historically, the buŋgul, a meeting place of dance, song and ritual, at Barunga Festival is largely admired from the sidelines — but this year was different.
“Barunga is one of those different places, it brings so many people from different communities to try to share together in one place, that’s what Barunga is all about,” Groote Eylandt dancer Leonard Amagula says.
“It is reaching out to other communities, reaching out to the young ones, to grow up and see we are doing wonderful things.”
The crowd is invited to take part in traditional dances. (ABC News: Max Rowley)
It starts as a trickle, and then legions of people from the crowd swirl into the centre, and press together behind the Groote Eylandt Anindilyakwa experts, billowing sand across the tiny community about 400 kilometers south-east of Darwin.
It’s one of those special moments that makes the three-day festival what it is; a place where both historic agreements are made and the promise of treaties echoes loudly.
And a place where remote Indigenous culture is strengthened simply by sharing in it.
A ‘rough but happy’ beginning
The festival has a long and important history that started over three decades ago in 1985.
Mr Amagula has been a regular attendee since his teens.
Back then, he says, it was “kinda rough but happy” and much larger with far more people traveling in from other Aboriginal communities.
Cultural workshops including yidaki (didgeridoo) making ran all weekend. (ABC Katherine: Roxanne Fitzgerald)
This year, after the festival was postponed due to COVID, creative director Michael Hohnen says that balance was almost struck again.
“Because it was not a long weekend, [there] was probably a few less people and the date change, a lot of people can’t plan for that date change, but I actually like this energy a lot,” he said.
“We didn’t push it at all in anywhere but remote communities … that’s what Barunga [Festival] is supposed to be, the community invites visitors in.”
Festival attendees learn weaving from Barunga elders. (ABC Katherine: Roxanne Fitzgerald)
A succession of local NT bands took to the main stage across the three days, as MCs called musicians up for their slot and announced the winners of sport trophies in between sets – the by-product of a festival thin on staff running on ‘Barunga time ‘.
On Saturday night, singer and political activist Walmatjarri elder Kankawa Nagarra – who toured with Hugh Jackman in Broadway to Oz – opened the main stage concert delivering a string of songs that delved into a life of hardship as she moved from mission to mission.
West Australian political activist, singer and songwriter Kankawa Nagarra was a special guest at the festival. (ABC News: Max Rowley)
Then Salt Lake and Eylandt Band from Groote fired up the crowd.
A link to political past
Dissimilar to past years, where the rallying cries for action from leaders have been loud and fearless, it was quieter on the political front, leaving the festival’s roots in sport, music and culture to shine.
But at a festival steeped in political history, the past couldn’t be ignored.
It was at this festival, 34 years ago, that Aboriginal elders and leaders presented then Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the Barunga Statement – a call for treaty.
“We haven’t seen a treaty yet,” Northern Territory Treaty Minister Selena Uibo tells the crowd gathered for the opening ceremony in the heat of the afternoon.
“This is something my team and I are working hard to have progressed … to listen to all of those voices that have been very loudly singing for the last three decades.”
Treaty Minister Selena Uibo encourages the crowd to work together to close the gap.(ABC News: Max Rowley)
It’s been almost five years since then chief minister Michael Gunner and all four Northern Territory land councils signed a Memorandum of Understanding — the Barunga Agreement — paving the way for consultations to begin with Aboriginal people about a treaty.
And just last month the Territory’s first treaty report was tabled in parliament.
Ms Uibo reiterated her commitment to provide a formal response by the end of the year and encouraged people to work together to close the gap, which she labeled, “so devastating in terms of disadvantage.”
“What can you do in your role, what can you do in your bubble, what can you do in your everyday lives that will truly promote and create reconciliation?” she asked the crowd.
Heading to WA Museum Boola Bardip on a gloomy Saturday afternoon to escape the rain has resulted in one Perth family scoring a unique prize.
Olivia Pizzale-Bryce, Jack Mcauliffe, and baby Pia had the shock of their lives when they went to the museum only to be greeted by the waiting media and Housing Minister John Carey as they became the one-millionth visitors.
The family has visited the museum five times and said they were heading there to see the Dinosaurs of Patagonia exhibition as it’s little Pia’s favorite.
“It’s really nice, we love coming here… it’s a place we can come for her, which is really nice,” mum Olivia said.
“We both support creative industries and museums and the gallery,” dad Jack added.
Opening its doors less than two years ago, Boola Bardip hit the major milestone two months ahead of where the government had predicted it would.
“I think we have a world-class museum, we should be mighty proud of it… There’s no doubt that this is a world-class museum that attracts people locally, and internationally…I think we can be deeply proud, ” Mr Carey said.
“And, I love the fact that it [the winner] is someone who has actually come back five times, and I think this is the beauty of the WA museum is that people love it so much, they keep coming back.”
The young family has been gifted a cocktail function for 20 of their nearest and dearest, including after-hours access, a VIP invitation to the launch of the Wonderland exhibition and the Season 2023 launch later this year, as well as a lifetime membership and a WA Museum prize pack valued at $500.
The achievements come as the museum has been keeping an eye on how its international visitor numbers following the border opening.
Despite the free admission set to end in October, the Minister said he believes the public will continue to go to the museum.
“We already did extend the free system due to COVID … So it was always the plan, that there would be fees introduced.”
The Minister added that children under the age of 16 will continue to get in for free.
In regards to if he supports a Perth Indigenous Cultural Centre, Mr Carey said he is open to the idea, but the facility would need to be steered by Aboriginal people.
Indigenous people from America and Australia have gathered in the Red Center with the collective goal of saving their languages from extinction.
Native American language experts are sharing their secrets of success in a four-day conference attended by more than 100 people from communities across Australia.
From north-western California, Julian Lang firsthand witnessed the revival of his own native tongue—the Karuk language.
“One person teaches another person and that person becomes a seed for so many more,” Mr Lang explained.
“We wanted to create five new speakers in five years, and three years later we have five new speakers.”
No books needed to revive languages
Twelve Native American revivalists will be sharing the “master-apprentice program” their ancestors developed more than three decades ago.
The program does away with books, pen and paper, and doesn’t rely on a curriculum.
Instead, they speak about everyday things, slowly acquiring words and context.
Indigenous Australians and Native Americans have gathered at the Red Center to learn from each other about how to revive their languages.(ABC News: Xavier Martin)
Julian Lang is one of the founders of the program and said it takes dedication and time — he estimates about three years and 900 hours.
Once an apprentice, now he is teaching Tori McConnell to reconnect more fully with her Karuk culture.
“They used to pick up young native kids and take them to school and strip them of their culture and their language and their identity,” the 22-year-old explained.
“We are reconnecting with who we are in those pieces that the schools and the churches kind of stripped away.”
“We were told never to speak our language again”
This story of language extinction is universal.
Australian government policies actively sought to extinguish Indigenous languages up until the 1970s — like Pertame, also known as Southern Arrernte, originally spoken around the Finke River south of Alice Springs.
Pertame woman, Aunty Kathleen Bradshaw-Swan, recalled how they would yarn in secret when they were children.
Pertame woman Aunty Kathleen Bradshaw-Swan was told at school to never speak her language.(ABC News: Stephanie Boltje)
“At school, we were told not to speak that lingo and we were told never to speak our language again,” Aunty Kathleen said.
“My sister Christobel was saying, sometimes she got hit by the headmaster for speaking the language.”
They are two of about 20 people who fluently speak Pertame.
The latest census found 167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are still spoken in homes across Australia.
But as many as 110 languages are severely or critically endangered.
“I am sad about our language being taken away in the past but with these people coming there are new beginnings for us,” Aunty Kathleen Bradshaw-Swan told The Drum.
The immersion technique
The UN has declared this next 10 years as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
In 2019 Aunty Kathleen and her granddaughter traveled to New York to hear about techniques that could fast-track the learning process, and they liked what they heard about the Master-Apprentice Program.
This one-on-one, or breath-to-breath, immersion technique is being shared at community-led The Pertame School in Alice Springs.
Samantha Penangka Armstrong is helping to run the conference with The Batchelor Institute and is also one of the apprentices.
“It’s reverting back to our old ways where we just only spoke language with our elders,” she said.
Samantha Penangka Armstrong is learning Pertame using the Master-Apprentice method developed by Native American language revivalists.(ABC News: Stephanie Boltje)
“It could be asking about a certain plant, what it’s used for, when it’s in season, if animals eat it or if humans eat it, getting the kids up for school — it’s learning Pertame [by speaking] Allow me.”
Through this conference, it’s hoped the next generation across Australia will benefit from the Native American experience.
“It’s really important for them to learn and get their language back,” Samanatha Penangka Armstrong told The Drum.
“It is not only just for their identity, but really ties into connection to country.”
“You can’t go onto country unless you actually speak to country in your own language.”
Here’s when and how you can access the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta – The AU Review
Activision has recently announced exactly how and when fans can get their hands on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta. And the best news? It’s only a few weeks away.
The beta itself will be available at an earlier date for those who have pre-ordered the game, with two separate weekends providing access to the beta over a couple of days. We’ve outlined them for you below:
weekend 1
Saturday September 17th, 3am AEST until Tuesday September 20th, for both PS5 and PS4 owners who have pre-ordered the game.
Monday September 19th, 3am until Tuesday September 20th, for all PS5 and PS4 owners.
weekend 2
Friday September 23rd, 3am AEST until Monday September 26th for all PS5 and PS4 owners, and for Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC owners who have pre-ordered the game.
Sunday September 25th, 3am until Monday, September 26th, for all console and PC owners.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will launch on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows PC on the 28th of October, 2022.
More to Explore on the AU:
Matthew Arcari
Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on Twitter at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.
Betty Taylor has been fighting the scourge of domestic violence in Queensland for more than three decades and even she was shocked by the explosive testimonies she heard at an inquiry into police culture.
Key points:
Leading advocate Betty Taylor is calling for a domestic violence and sexual assault commissioner
Current officers told the inquiry unconscious bias was a major issue and misogyny “ran wild” in the force
Tuesday marks the final day of public hearings, with a report to be handed down in October
WARNING: This story contains strong language that some readers may find offensive.
The chief executive of the Red Rose Foundation has been closely following the inquiry into the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) response to domestic and family violence, which has spanned five weeks and heard from dozens of witnesses, including current and retired police officers.
With Tuesday marking its final day of public hearings, the inquiry has painted a damning picture of police culture and problematic attitudes in the ranks towards domestic violence survivors.
Misogynistic attitudes towards women, policy and procedural failures as well as serious allegations of police inaction to protect domestic violence survivors have all been laid bare.
Ms Taylor said officers’ response to domestic and family violence in Queensland was the worst she’s ever witnessed in her 34 years of advocacy.
“This inquiry is incredibly important. I’ve worked across the domestic violence field for 34 years and … the response by police is the worst it’s ever been,” Ms Taylor said.
“Not even just by police — I think women are getting a rough deal in the community and through the courts.
“Victims have to have confidence in the police. They’ve got to know they can call and… be taken seriously.”
‘Time for really significant reforms’
Ms Taylor said she hoped the inquiry would provide momentum for meaningful change and reform.
“We’ve got women potentially being murdered and police aren’t taking the time to do thorough investigations. It really concerns me,” she said.
“My hope is [that] we really step up and look at what domestic violence really is: one of the worst crimes in our community.
“It’s time to step back and reflect and put in place some really significant reforms.”
There are calls for ongoing face-to-face domestic violence training for police.(ABC News: Patrick Williams)
Headed by Judge Deborah Richards, the landmark inquiry’s goal is to determine whether cultural issues are negatively impacting how police handle domestic violence cases, as well as the experience of Indigenous domestic violence victims and the way corrupt conduct and complaints against police are dealt with.
A key recommendation of the Women’s Safety and Justice taskforce, the inquiry follows urgent calls for action after several high-profile domestic violence murders, including the deaths of Doreen Langham, Hannah Clarke and her three children.
Among the explosive evidence, one service officer — who cannot be identified for legal reasons — told the inquiry that misogyny “ran wild” within the force as he detailed hearing male colleagues frequently making derogatory remarks about female survivors and avoiding domestic violence incidents altogether.
“Domestic violence is just foreplay”, “she’s too ugly to be raped”, “rape is just surprise sex” and “I can see why he does it to her — if I was in his position, I’d do that,” the officer told the inquiry, recounting comments he had heard made by seasoned male officers.
The officer became emotional as he told the inquiry “the core business in his station was misogyny, dehumanization and negligence.”
‘She’s just blowing hot air’
Retired officer Audra Pollard — who was a coordinator officer in police call centers — told the inquiry she witnessed police deliberately driving away from a suburb to avoid responding to a domestic violence incident.
Ms Pollard said her colleagues would often make derogatory comments about “repeat” domestic violence complainants, saying things like: “Oh — that f**kwit has called again” “That spoon is on the line again”, “Don’t bother sending a crew to that job, she’s just blowing hot air, that sort of thing.”
Officers told the inquiry that misogyny and unconscious bias are major issues throughout the force.(ABC News: Luke Bowden)
The inquiry also heard from Sergeant Paul Trinder, a shift supervisor, who recalled a time where two officers, including a senior constable, downplayed a serious domestic violence incident, despite “clear photographic evidence” of assault and threats made against the victim.
“There was a statement from the aggrieved person that the respondent had threatened to decapitate the family dog in front of her and her children,” Sergeant Trinder told the inquiry.
“That victim had been failed by that officer. There was clear photographic evidence that she had been assaulted, like a punch-sized bruise around her rib cage and so on.
“That information was not provided to me at the time.”
The inquiry was told of another instance where a police officer did not investigate the suspicious death of a domestic violence victim because she and her husband were a “pair of scumbags who lived in a sh*t area in a sh*t house”.
Sergeant Trinder said “unconscious bias” was a major problem.
The inquiry was also told Indigenous domestic violence victims were turned away from police stations or misidentified as perpetrators.
‘DV fatigue’ blamed for police inaction
Several witnesses told the inquiry that officers were “DV fatigued” and fearful of scrutiny over their response to a large volume of cases, with police spending more than 40 per cent of their time responding to domestic violence matters.
As part of the inquiry, consultant and former detective Mark Ainsworth interviewed more than 50 police officers and found there was a culture of “taking shortcuts” to avoid doing DV orders because of their “convoluted nature”.
The inquiry heard there was a culture of doing the “bare minimum” when investigating DV complaints as a way of coping with burnout.(AAP: Dan Peled)
Mr Ainsworth was told the “culture of doing the bare minimum might be a coping mechanism to deal with being overworked and DV-fatigued”.
The inquiry also heard from the state’s most senior officer in charge of DV investigations, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, who said officers were overwhelmed, fatigued and reporting high levels of burnout and psychological distress.
He did concede that there were “significant issues of police culture at play.”
“We may have some members, albeit I hope very few, who do have some deeply misogynistic attitudes,” Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry, although he did not say the issue was systemic.
Police unsurprised by officers perpetrating domestic violence
The inquiry also revealed 38 Queensland police officers were currently subject to domestic and family violence orders as of June 30.
Queensland Assistant Police Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon says police perpetrating domestic violence is concerning but expected given the size of the force.(Supplied: Queensland Police Service)
One officer, the inquiry was told, who was served wiith a Police Protection Notice (PPN), allegedly breached it just 33 minutes after being served a copy of it, while another allegedly used the QPS database to try to locate the crisis shelter of his ex-wife, who had lodged a DV complaint against him.
Assistant Police Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon — who heads the internal affairs division within the ethical standards command — said police-perpetrated DV was not surprising, given the size of the force.
“We’re a large organization of 17,000 people … it is not something that you can expect we won’t see in our organization given the size of it,” Assistant Commissioner Scanlon told the inquiry.
“There will be officers who will find themselves in a relationship that breaks down or where there are allegations of domestic violence unfortunately.
“Could we pick up some of these things earlier? I dare say we should have and could have.”
Will the inquiry lead to meaningful change?
There have been some notable absences from the public hearings, including QPS Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Queensland Police Union chief executive Ian Leavers and Police Minister Mark Ryan, yet none was asked by the inquiry to give evidence in person.
A common theme throughout the public hearings was the need for thorough and ongoing face-to-face DV training for police.
Almost 100 per cent of interviewees told Mr Ainsworth the “whole system” needs to be reviewed and streamlined to address cultural issues across the force.
Ms Taylor said her organization was calling for a domestic violence and sexual assault commissioner to ensure survivors were protected.
“I really would like to see a domestic violence and sexual assault commissioner that has an external role in not just overseeing complaints, but [also] policy advice to government, overseeing … how support is given to victims by both police and external agencies,” she said.
“The recommendations [to be handed down at the end of the inquiry] need to reflect the seriousness of what’s been heard.”
The inquiry will hand its final report to the state government in October.
In a statement, the QPS said it was committed to working with the inquiry to ensure “organizational values, standards of practice and responsibilities are being maintained and, where the opportunity arises, enhanced”.
“We are committed to strengthening and improving our response to DFV matters to ensure the service is supporting all victims and holding perpetrators to account,” a spokesperson said.
Nintendo hasn’t revealed what the majority of mario kart 8‘s new courses will be, but players think they already know thanks to some clues reportedly left in the latest DLC files. Dataminers say the latest update contains a ton of leftover music references that hint at what 14 of the remaining 32 courses will be.
“Nintendo left then song prefetches to many future dlc courses in the BGM.bars of wave 2,” dataminer Fishguy6564 wrote on Twitter Thursday night. The discovery, apparently made by YouTube account recordreader, led to a list of music tracks pointing to various courses from past games in the Mario Kart series that would presumably appear in future DLC.
[SPOILERS] MK8D BOOSTER COURSE PASS MUSIC LEAK
The full list is:
Peach Gardens (DS)
Boo Lake of Broken Pier (GBA)
Alpine Pass (3DS)
Berlin Byways (Tour)
Waluigi Stadium (GCN)
Merry Mountain (Tour)
Rainbow Road (3DS)
Amsterdam Drift (Tour)
Singapore Speedway (Tour)
Los Angeles Laps (Tour)
Sunset Wilds (GBA)
Bangkok Rush (Tour)
Vancouver Velocity (Tour)
Maple Treeway (Wii)
Combining this apparent new info with Fishguy’s past datamining of the first DLC wave revealed a pretty thorough portrait of what types of courses could be coming in the future.
A lot of the courses are from toursthemobile Mario Kart spin-off. That’s not terrible news considering that the MK8 versions of many of those have been excellent so far. But players did quickly point out that if accurate, this means there are only two more Nintendo DS stages coming, and since one of them is Peach Gardens, not all of the fan-favorites like Airship Fortress, Luigi’s Mansion, and DK Summit will make the cut.
Fans will still have to wait a bit to see if these leaks get confirmed and how the rest of the question marks will be filled in. MK8‘s Booster Course Pass will add the remaining 32 new courses between now and the end of 2023.
D-Link’s new Eagle Pro AI series of routers is looking to shake things on both sides of the market, from entry-level routers-to premium mesh systems. The R15 AX1500 Eagle Pro AI stands as the entry-level option, but provides some nifty value through its compact design, Wi-Fi 6 functionality and various smart features including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control commands, that this side of the market have been missing as of late. It might not jump out at users in any particular way, but still serves as a worthy upgrade for those looking for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, or as a basic upgrade for those rather bare-bones routers provided by most internet and telco providers.
Design
Much like its sibling, the G415 4G Smart Router, the R15 is rather compact an unassuming, sporting a flat white paint job and four side antennas. Unlike the G415, the R15 does sit flat on its back rather than standing upright, meaning it might take up a little more room in some spaces. That being said, the R15 is one of the smallest routers I’ve ever used, so I can’t imagine both the size and orientation being too much of an issue for most users.
The back of the router also sports three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, and a single Gigabit Ethernet port for even faster transfer speeds, the latter of which is now becoming a standard for all levels and tiers of internet routers. Beyond this, there’s admittedly not much going on with the router, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Its smaller size allows it to be tucked away, while the only thing I can truly point out regarding the overall appearance and design of such a router, is that the flat white colourway may stand out, particularly if your internet setup is located in a central position in the home.
Performance
In terms of performance, the R15 plays things relatively straight. With the ability to hit speeds of up to 1,201Mbps on 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the traditional 2.4GHz, most Australian users will find the router capable of transmitting the fastest speeds our internet companies and telco providers have to offer. Unlike most entry-level routers and routers provided by the aforementioned internet and telco companies, the the R15 can cover a whopping 230 square meters, making it a no-brainer for both smaller and larger households alike, without the need to purchase any external or additional extenders.
That being said, the R15 does play friendly with the Eagle Pro AI range, meaning such extenders and even additional routers can easily be paired to the R15 via the Eagle Pro AI app. Much like the G415 4G Smart Router, the Eagle Pro AI Engine also keeps users tuned to the most reliable band at any given time, be it the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band, allowing multiple uses to consistently access the most efficient and reliable method of connectivity .
Software
Thankfully, the Eagle Pro AI app is incredibly friendly and easy to use. As we’ve covered most of the apps functionality and features in our D-Link G415 AX1500 4G Smart Router Review, we have included the relevant excerpt below, outlining a nearly identical experience in relation to the R15:
“It’s incredibly easy to navigate, and is responsible for additional features, including the aforementioned AI Mesh Optimiser and the handy AI Parental Control. As the name suggests, AI Parental Control allows users to monitor and manage their children’s online activities. From here, you can create a profile for individual users to block and minimize access to the internet. Aside from the rampant virus exposure that may be a cause for concern for some parents, certain sites can even be curbed thanks to a web filter.”
“The Eagle Pro AI App also allows for voice control through multiple platforms including the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This might feel unnecessary for some, but is a welcome inclusion for those looking to turn their home into a smart, interconnected haven. The included AI Assistant can also whip up weekly reports for you incusing user activity and general internet traffic, with recommendations on how to solve the issues that may arise as a result. Overall, the app is incredibly easy to navigate and continuously informative at every step.”
Verdict & Value
Overall, the D-Link R15 AX1500 Smart Router is a reliable router for the entry-level price tag. Thanks to the Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, Eagle Pro AI app and compact design, it’s admittedly hard to pass this one up, should you be upgrading from a basic router provided by your internet provider, or imply looking to the future for Wi-Fi 6 support, which is arguably provided here at one of the cheapest price points in the market today. Impressive range will negate the need for extenders in most homes, while such a solution is incredibly easy to set up given the seamless functionality of the Eagle Pro AI app. If you’re looking for a solid all-rounder for an entry-level price tag, you might not need to look any further.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
highlights: lowlights: White coloring can stand out, particularly if internet setup is in a central location manufacturer: D Link Price: A$199 Available:Now
There are “significant” cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service (QPS) affecting how officers respond to domestic violence, the state’s most senior officer in charge of domestic violence investigations has told an inquiry.
Key points:
Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd says the majority of criticism of police cultural issues is “unchallenged”
He told the inquiry inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout were contributing to poor culture
Police data shows a major jump in strangulation cases and DVO breaches in the past five years
The commission of inquiry, which began on May 30, is examining the police response to domestic and family violence cases.
Headed by Judge Deborah Richards, it is also probing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system and the way corrupt conduct and complaints against police are handled.
The inquiry heard today from Assistant Police Commissioner Brian Codd, the head of the state’s domestic violence and vulnerable persons command, who gave his take on the evidence heard in the public hearings so far.
Counsel assisting the commission Ruth O’Gorman said the issues raised included officers avoiding DV call-outs, showing “disinterest” when attending call-outs, conducting “insufficient investigations” and misidentification of the victims and perpetrators.
“There are significant issues of police culture at play here that need to be addressed,” Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry.
“We may have some members, albeit I hope very few, who do have some deeply misogynistic attitudes”
“I do accept that there are significant areas of concern that have been raised… that certainly will require us to look… beyond just isolated incidents.”
‘Pockets of issues’ around police culture
Assistant Commissioner Codd said he accepted “the majority” of evidence given relating to police culture was “unchallenged”.
“There’s very clearly in my view … pockets of issues of poor performance … behaviors and attitudes across our organization — aspects of culture that are impacting on our performance of our duty in DV,” Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry.
“I certainly accept that the evidence provided has highlighted a range of concerning aspects of culture.
“It’s far from, in my humble opinion, the majority.
“But that doesn’t matter to a point, because whilst there’s still victims and people who need our help … [there’s a need for] focus and improvement.
“I do accept that there are significant areas of concern … that certainly will require us to look beyond just isolated incidents. There’s been too many consistencies in too many places.”
The inquiry heard inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout were contributing to poor police culture.(AAP: Dan Peled)
However, Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry he did not believe cultural issues were “widespread” or “systemic” within the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
“I’d avoid the term ‘systemic’ because that suggests it’s absolutely through every part of our organization,” he said.
“I guess the observation I’d like to make though is the term about ‘widespread’ or ‘endemic’ that’s tied to it.
“I’m wary that almost every one of the witnesses, or certainly a number [of them,] …also made the point that it wasn’t their experience with every officer.”
He told the inquiry “a range of complex factors” were contributing to issues with police culture, including inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout.
Strangulation cases more than double in five years
Assistant Commissioner Codd also told the inquiry domestic violence strangulation had “progressively increased” from 1,060 reported occurrences in the 2016/2017 financial year to 2,145 in 2022/2023, according to QPS data.
He said domestic violence reports had also climbed from 89,458 in the 2016/2017 financial year to 138,551 in 2022/2023.
The inquiry heard breaches of domestic violence orders (DVOs) were another area of concern, increasing from 25,771 in the 2016/2017 financial year to 46,601 in 2022/2023.
“There’s been a significant increase there but, by the same token, it is perhaps a measure of us being better at identifying them,” he told the inquiry.
Assistant Commissioner Codd had previously told the inquiry in the first week of public hearings that the police service was struggling to keep up with demand, with officers spending more than 40 per cent of their time responding to domestic violence matters.
He said officers were overwhelmed and fatigued and were reporting high levels of burnout and psychological distress.
The QPS will not comment on specific issues raised during the hearings but has committed to work with the inquiry to “ensure that organizational values, standards of practice and responsibilities are being maintained and, where the opportunity arises, enhanced”.
Public hearings will continue in Brisbane tomorrow, before moving to Mount Isa for the inquiry’s final two days next week.
The inquiry will hand down its final report in October.
In the heart of Western Australia’s Pilbara region lies sacred country, littered with lucrative iron ore mines that provide billions for Australia’s economy.
Now, the WA government wants to invest in roads near Karijini National Park and Wittenoom so Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting can transport iron ore through the region.
Fears for Aboriginal heritage have been sparked by the proposal, and also questioned due to its proximity to the deadly asbestos at Wittenoom — the largest contamination site in the Southern Hemisphere.
Documents seen by the ABC reveal the proposal has not been costed but includes more than 300 kilometers of upgrades and multiple new bridges on Nanuturra Munjina Road, Hamersley Mount Bruce Road, and Karijini Drive.
Aaron Rayner manages cultural heritage for Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC), which holds native title for the area.
He said more than 40 significant sites would be damaged by the road project in the Hamersley Range, especially in an area called Rio Tinto Gorge.
The project would require land clearing and camps for up to 200 workers.
Sites in the area have been dated for human habitation back tens of thousands of years.(Supplied: Damien Katich)
“The proposal is to essentially develop a haul road that runs across and right through Eastern Guruma country and will interfere with very important Aboriginal heritage,” Mr Rayner said.
“There are about 45 Aboriginal sites that would be impacted, but there are many unknown and unrecorded Aboriginal heritage sites that will be impacted.”
A train lugs iron ore through the Hamersley Range.(ABC News: Rachel Fountain)
The upgrades would allow trucks carrying iron ore from Hancock’s Hardey operation to access the Great Northern Highway on the eastern edge of Karijini.
The mining company launched a feasibility study this year on the Hardey project in partnership with its owners Australian Premium Iron, with Hancock to lead any future development.
Government approached after Hancock rejected
Mr Rayner said Hancock approached WGAC for heritage consultation earlier this year, but they rejected it.
He said traditional owners then received a proposal from Main Roads WA, which backed Hancock’s plan.
Traditional owners have since written to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Hancock to voice their concerns.
“Eastern Guruma elders advised Hancock Prospecting that they were opposed to the construction of the road,” Mr Rayner said.
“We hope that both Hancock Prospecting and the Minister for Transport have listened to the Eastern Guruma elders and decided not to build the road.”
A Hancock spokesperson said the company consulted with all stakeholders about its operations and had engaged with traditional owners.
“Any option under consideration by Hancock is done so in consultation with Main Roads WA, in addition to traditional owners, to ensure heritage and cultural social values are understood and respected,” the spokesperson said.
Iron ore mines in the Pilbara generate hundreds of billions of dollars for the economy.(Supplied: Roy Hill)
The documents seen by the ABC show Main Roads WA, which owns the roads in question, contacted traditional owners about the proposal after Hancock pitched the idea.
“Main Roads now has the opportunity after being approached by Hancock Prospecting,” the documents state.
The project would start in 2023 and take about three years to complete, according to the documents.
A spokesperson for Ms Saffioti claimed no direct contact had been made with the minister but said Main Roads WA would engage with stakeholders including traditional owner groups.
Deadly asbestos risk for road workers
The proposal also includes a realignment of Nanuturra Munjina Road around Wittenoom, the site of disastrous asbestos mining historically led by Gina Rinehart’s father, Lang Hancock.
Mountains of deadly blue asbestos tailings litter the area around the town known as the Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area.
Massive piles of asbestos tailings still litter the area around Wittenoom.(Supplied)
The WA government officially closed Wittenoom in March as it considered the asbestos to be a public health risk with plans to demolish the town’s few remaining properties.
Curtin University respiratory health professor Fraser Brims said workers on the project in and around Wittenoom would be risking lung cancer and other deadly asbestos-related diseases.
“We don’t know with asbestos if there is a safe exposure level, so really if exposure can be avoided then it must be avoided to keep workers and indeed anybody safe,” Professor Brims said.
Professor Brims said extensive protective equipment would be required, which would be difficult to enforce in the intense Pilbara heat.
“Gold standard protection would be a full PPE suit. It’s heavy equipment, it would be very uncomfortable in the heat,” he said.
“Workers, because of the heat, would become uncomfortable. In time the concern would be they’d look to cut corners.”
A Main Roads WA spokesperson said the project was in its early planning stages, but any asbestos risk would be managed and traditional owner groups had been engaged.
Although he’s navigated onscreen situations as dicey as being lost at sea with a tiger, Dev Patel recently faced a real-life incident straight out of a thriller. The actor and his friends reportedly intervened in a “violent altercation” outside of a convenience store in Adelaide, Australia on Monday night.
Per 7News Australia, the fight occurred just after 8:45 pm, and during the altercation a woman stabbed a man in the chest. Patel, who was last seen in David Lowery’s 2020 fantasy epic The Green Knighttook a page from the film’s chivalrous book and stepped in to prevent any further violence.
“Dev acted on his natural instinct to try and de-escalate the situation and break up the fight,” Patel’s representatives shared in a statement. “The group was thankfully successful in doing so and they remained on site to ensure that the police and eventually the ambulance arrived.”
After emergency services were called, 7News reports that the victim was treated for non-life-threatening industries, while the aggressor was arrested and charged with aggravated assault causing harm. She has been denied bail.
The statement from Patel’s reps continued on to stress that the actor is not a hero for stepping in, and hoped that the altercation is getting attention would bring attention to a larger issue.
G/O Media may get a commission
Eco-Conscious Shoes
Ponto Footwear
Work-Lifestyle Balance Ponto is all about mindful—in a thoughtful sense, and in the way they use recycled and bio-based materials.
“This specific incident highlights a larger systemic issue of marginalized members of society not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Patel’s reps concluded. “The hope is that the same level of media attention this story is receiving (solely because Dev, as a famous person, was involved) can be a catalyst for lawmakers to be compassionate in determining long-term solutions to help not only the individuals who were involved but the community at large.”
