QLD: Beattie fails Aborigines says opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2000
QLD: Beattie fails Aborigines says opposition

BRISBANE, Aug 27 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie should apologise to Aboriginal
communities on Cape York for letting them down over domestic violence, the state opposition
said today.

Deputy opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said Mr Beattie had the opportunity to
apologise during his weekend visit to the remote North Queensland town of Weipa.

An apology was warranted because the government had failed to fulfill its promise to
respond quickly to 120 recommendations to combat domestic violence made by a special indigenous
women's taskforce.

Mr Springborg said the government had promised the taskforce report would be given
top priority and he said Mr Beattie should now apologise.

"The state government released the taskforce's report to much fanfare last December,
when the Premier gave a commitment to formally respond to all recommendations by April,"

Mr Springborg said.

"That was the last anyone heard from Mr Beattie on this issue," he said.

Aboriginal and Islander Affairs Minister Judy Spence recently said the government response
would now not be ready until the end of the year.

AAP geb/rs

KEYWORD: SUMMIT APOLOGISE

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