Thursday 13th March 1997
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Issues - The banking system under the spotlight. A few days ago we reported on the incident in which a 77 year old community worker, Georgie Conway, was arrested for assaulting a policeman in a farsicle case which resulted in the highly regarded granny with an unblemished record being fined Au$100 in an Ipswich magistrate's court.
Now we have a case in which a woman who poked her tongue out at a policeman while driving along the road was stopped then dragged from her car and handcuffed.
The single mother Penny Tanielu, 30, said yesterday that the incident had ruined her life. "I just went into depression after it. I locked myself in my room and became agoraphobic," Ms Tanielu said.
Yesterday the Queensland Criminial Justice Commission launched an inquiry into the incident after an official complaint from Ms Tanielu.
Earlier Police Commissioner Jim O'Sullivan told 4BC talk back radio "that if what the lady says is true then it's a total over-reaction from our people. If there are no extenuating circumstances then that is ridiculous... there's summons actions that can be taken. Normally arrest is the final solution. I don't know if handcuffs were appropriate."
Magistrate Basil Gribbin accepted Ms Tanielu's evidence when clearing her of any wrongdoing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday - although he recognised that she had a hostile attitude towards the police. Ms Tanielu had been charged with insulting police, failing to state her name and address, assaulting police and two counts of obstructing police in relation to the incident that happened in September last year.
According to her lawyer, Pamela Sweetapple, Ms Tanielu is now considering the Queensland Police Service.
Australian society has become really mixed-up. Here we have two cases of women being arrested or charged with "assaulting" big burly police officers. In the case of Georgie Conway she poked the fellow in the chest... in this case who knows how the "assault" occured.
Perhaps the reaction by the police is understandable when you consider the frustrations that they must face when having to deal with our "politically correct" society which allows certain groups in our community to live above the law. Groups like under aged teenagers and the indigenous population. Understandable but that does not make it right.
Having said that I wouldn't be a police officer for quids... it has got to rate right down at the bottom with working as a bank manager for one of the big four banks - glorified titles for staff who are little more than administrators and paper pushers for the gang back at head office.
One of Queensland's largest public companies, Mount Isa Mines Ltd (MIM), will sign a major commercial contract with a group of Aborigines at Cloncurry. The Aborigines will provide transport services to the Au$350 million Ernest Henry Mine (EHM).
The mine, which is expected to create about Au$3 billion in revenue during its 15 year life, will use the Koutha Aboriginal Development Corporation (KADC) in a deal worth Au$250,000 a year.
Unlike the Century Zinc project native title claims were not effecting EHM's future and the deal with the KADC was aimed at producing "benefits for local people from the region's growing economic development", said KADC administrator Elaine McKeown.
In a development associated with the Wik decision Queensland Mining Council chief executive, Michael Pinnock, wrote to Prime Minister John Howard seeking an assurance that the financial assistance being promised to pastoralists facing native title claims would extend to the mining industry.
"Quite frankly I don't think they would be able to limit it just to farmers because it would be discriminatory," Mr Pinnock said.
Howard said that the country's current grwoth rate of 3.5% was well below the 4.5% needed to reduce unemployment.
He also took the opportunity to attack Labor leader Kim Beazley saying that they should be more explicit on whether they would support the work for the dole scheme.
Employment data to be released today shows that the unemployment rate is expected to stay at 8.5% for several months.
Extensive political commentary and links can be found on Palmer's Australian Politics page.
Let them stay.
But with conditions attached:
When word of a boat load of potential illegals leaving gets to the people who are next on the list for legal migration, they will do what they can to ensure the boat people don't get very far.
Neil Thomson.
As an ordinary Australian, he was naturally suspicious of authority. Defense solicitor P. Grainger, NSW, 1970.
Prudential Bache senior dealer John Blackhall-Cain said, "The dollar finished at its highs on strong overseas buying and also general sentiment that there will be a rate rise in the US which could effect interest rates here."
In other cricketing news South African Gary Kirsten has stated that he thinks countryman Alan Donald is the fastest bowler in the world today - a comment backed up by batsmen like Ian Healy (Australia) and Andy Flowers (Zimbabwe). Kirsten said, "There are different kinds of quick bowlers. Speed through the air is the classic skill but there are those who are just 'at you' all the time. They bowl short of a length and hit the deck hard, always pushing you back.
"But the fastest through the air I have faced is Donald. Waqar Younis isn't far behind. But Donald, on his day, is scary."
To be enjoyed in the global office - have a great day!
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