There have been mixed reactions after the Queensland government announced it would apologise to Palm Islanders for the police misconduct that precipitated violent protests on Island in 2004 and pay 30 million dollars to the community
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers, attacked the settlement and siad it should be adjusted to also include the Officers on the Island at the time as the current payout ‘ignores their trauma’.
Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey however, said Union president Ian Leavers must stop pedalling falsehoods and accept a Federal Court ruling that police were racist in their interactions with the islanders.