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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.
Related: Aurukun residents fear going home after family feud spills over into violence
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.
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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”.