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Aurukun: Billy Gordon says violence likely 'a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun' | Aurukun: Billy Gordon says violence likely 'a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun' |
(4 months later) | |
Queensland MP Billy Gordon says the violence that led to teachers being flown out of a remote Indigenous community was likely “just a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun”. | Queensland MP Billy Gordon says the violence that led to teachers being flown out of a remote Indigenous community was likely “just a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun”. |
The Queensland Department of Education has taken 25 teachers and staff out of Aurukun and closed the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy for a week, fearing for staff safety. | The Queensland Department of Education has taken 25 teachers and staff out of Aurukun and closed the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy for a week, fearing for staff safety. |
The drastic measure came after a group of youths, one of whom was brandishing an axe, allegedly stole the school principal’s car, having already tried to break into two teachers’ houses. | The drastic measure came after a group of youths, one of whom was brandishing an axe, allegedly stole the school principal’s car, having already tried to break into two teachers’ houses. |
Gordon, the member for Cook, which includes Aurukun, was asked on Wednesday what he thought sparked the incidents. | Gordon, the member for Cook, which includes Aurukun, was asked on Wednesday what he thought sparked the incidents. |
“Apart from potentially, you know, just a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun under what may have been the influence of alcohol, we’re still getting to the bottom of that,” he said. | “Apart from potentially, you know, just a couple of young fellas out for a bit of fun under what may have been the influence of alcohol, we’re still getting to the bottom of that,” he said. |
“I think over the coming day or so we’ll get a clear idea about that.” | “I think over the coming day or so we’ll get a clear idea about that.” |
Gordon applauded the education minister, Kate Jones, for acting quickly to ensure teachers’ safety but urged her to also attend a meeting in the town on Friday to look at ways to help quell the community’s unrest. | Gordon applauded the education minister, Kate Jones, for acting quickly to ensure teachers’ safety but urged her to also attend a meeting in the town on Friday to look at ways to help quell the community’s unrest. |
He said he wasn’t certain whether alcohol sparked the incidents but it’s generally been a problem in the dry community. | He said he wasn’t certain whether alcohol sparked the incidents but it’s generally been a problem in the dry community. |
“If you look at the history, police will tell you whenever there is unrest that occurs in the community, a lot of it has to do with a spike in sly-grogging in the community,” he said. | “If you look at the history, police will tell you whenever there is unrest that occurs in the community, a lot of it has to do with a spike in sly-grogging in the community,” he said. |
Gordon said he’d been told the principal had been assaulted with the axe’s handle, not “the dangerous end”, and was shaken by the incident but otherwise fine. | Gordon said he’d been told the principal had been assaulted with the axe’s handle, not “the dangerous end”, and was shaken by the incident but otherwise fine. |
North Queensland’s family responsibilities commissioner, David Glasgow, said the unrest in Aurukun was caused by young people roaming the streets late at night. | North Queensland’s family responsibilities commissioner, David Glasgow, said the unrest in Aurukun was caused by young people roaming the streets late at night. |
Speaking from the township before the commission’s monthly sittings, Glasgow said the principal wasn’t intentionally targeted, given the youths had allegedly first tried to break into the teachers’ homes. | Speaking from the township before the commission’s monthly sittings, Glasgow said the principal wasn’t intentionally targeted, given the youths had allegedly first tried to break into the teachers’ homes. |
“It was more opportunistic because these young people are out in the community,” he said. “They should be at home in bed at one o’clock in the morning.” | “It was more opportunistic because these young people are out in the community,” he said. “They should be at home in bed at one o’clock in the morning.” |
Noel Pearson – who operates the school with the Department of Education – has urged leaders and families of Aurukun to “step up and help tackle the problems that are driving these incidents”. | Noel Pearson – who operates the school with the Department of Education – has urged leaders and families of Aurukun to “step up and help tackle the problems that are driving these incidents”. |
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