Storm brews within Aboriginal Australia

A storm larger than Palm Island's riots, rage and revenge is brewing within Aboriginal Australia.

Quiet, perhaps only temporary, returned this week to the north Queensland island which indigenous leaders describe as "spiritually bleeding".

But rumblings from Aboriginal Australia - over issues such as racism, injustice and deaths in custody - are growing louder.

"We are in a crisis racially in this country," leading indigenous academic, Professor Boni Robertson said.

"This time they've just pushed our people too far. They cannot expect to keep treating our people this way and that there will be no retaliation."

The death in custody of Palm Island man Cameron Doomadgee, 36, has become a major issue for the indigenous community.

The tragic and still mysterious events which occurred within one hour in a watchhouse cell on the island have ignited ever-present tensions between indigenous Australia and white authority.

"Palm Island is not a specific case; many of our indigenous communities have been pushed to almost breaking point," Professor Robertson said.

"In similar circumstances other communities could react the same way. How many times do our people have to make this point to government?"

On November 26, up to 300 rioting islanders set fire to the Aboriginal settlement's watchhouse, police station and residential barracks, arming themselves with shovels, tools and whatever other implements they could find as they led a rampage on the island's government-owned buildings.

A community meeting turned from calm to sheer pandemonium within minutes after Mr Doomadgee's autopsy results were read aloud.

Findings revealed the 36-year-old suffered four broken ribs and died from an intra-abdominal haemorrhage caused by a ruptured liver and portal vein -- injuries sustained during a "scuffle" with a policeman during his arrest on November 19.

The angry mob - who believed Mr Doomadgee had been murdered - responded with fury. Police, media and others were forced to flee in fear of their lives.

"I felt the release off my chest," Mr Doomadgee's sister Elizabeth Doomadgee this week said of the riot. "It was the release of my people."

Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner, who had threatened "payback" for the death of Mr Doomadgee, a blood relative, said the riot was the community's "right" in response to a murder.

"All Aboriginal Australia's looking at Palm Island with great pride and satisfaction, no one's shaking their head going shame, shame," he said.

"So that shows the black and white relationship in the country.

"We look around at Palm Island, Redfern, we go bloody good onya, one for us, I can't wait till I have my go. Aboriginal Australia loves those moments. They're our million men marches, they're moments to be extremely proud of.

"I've got a different mentality. I've grown up (with) 200 years of oppression here."

Queensland Police Union acting president Denis Fitzpatrick moved to quell Palm Island's concerns, saying there was no evidence to support allegations Mr Doomadgee was murdered.

"That is truly a matter for the coroner to determine but at this stage to my knowledge there is no evidence to support any allegation (of murder)," he said.

"I would just call for calm, for peace. Let us bury this poor gentleman who was the subject of this very sad accident with some dignity and some respect."

Tensions between white authority and Aborigines deepened this week with allegations of two Aboriginal youths being dragged around by the neck by a property worker who caught them breaking into a hut in the state's south-west.

"It is particularly telling that this has happened only a couple of days after Palm Island," Queensland indigenous leader Robbie Williams said, describing the alleged assault as horrifying.

He said both state and federal governments had paved the way "for expressions of racism".

Another Aboriginal leader, Bert Button, said: "It's getting to the stage it is almost open go to maim and kill black fellas."

Prof Robertson said on top of Palm Island, the alleged assault was "really too much".

"How much more do they think our people can cope with?" she asked. "There's immense frustration in our communities."

Although Palm Island police were the target of last Friday's riots, events in nearby Townsville days later showed the extent of Aboriginal anger went further.

"Racism is institutionalised throughout our departments," Errol Wyles said as he protested outside Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

"We had (Queensland) Premier (Peter) Beattie get on the radio and TV and say there's one law for black and white. That is not the case.

"You only have to look at the prison system and see what the percentage of indigenous people are in there."

As 18 Aborigines charged with rioting on Palm Island faced the court, up to 50 angry protesters waved placards which read "Thou shalt not kill us no more" and "Stop police deaths in custody", at times jostling with media and police.

Similar scenes are likely to be seen across Australia next week.

Aboriginal leaders are planning national protest rallies on December 11 to coincide with Harmony Day to declare "enough is enough" over treatment of indigenous people by authorities.

Brisbane-based Aboriginal activist Sam Watson said there were more such deaths now than in 1991 when the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed down 339 recommendations.

"Nothing has changed and the situation is getting worse," he said.

"All we can see is the system is hardening about Aboriginal people and we really fear for our young people on the streets of Australia.

"Police officers just use their shields and their blue uniforms as devices to bash and terrorise and kill Aboriginal people."

Aboriginal leaders said 3000 Maori from New Zealand had offered to fly to Australia for the rally.

Outgoing Reconciliation Australia co-chairman Fred Chaney said the events of the past week were a reminder of how far Australia had to go in the reconciliation process.

"How many Redferns do we have to have?," he asked.

- AAP