Ann Scott talks about the current challenges facing the Police Service, and notes that while they have worked extremely hard to establish better relations with the Indigenous community, this continues to be a major issue. She also addresses the issue of racism within the Police Service, particularly Colin Dillon's 1997 complaint, drawing the comparison with sexism, and noting that the prejudices within the Police Service reflect those within society more broadly.
Ann Scott discusses the improvements to the Queensland Police Service post-Fitzgerald, while pointing out that the pre-Fitzgerald service was not wholly untrustworthy, and that today's service continues to face problems, such as the events on Palm Island. She also talks about the way that police policy was developed, and the role that the commissioner, federal initiatives and election promises played in the process.
Ann Scott comments on the rise of proactive policing post-Fitzgerald Inquiry, and on the implementation of statistical and other analysis of the operations of the Police Service. She suggests that this new approach has contributed to the much improved relationship between police and Indigenous people. She also notes that she disagreed with 1996 CJC assertions of increasing corruption in the police force, though she acknowledges that some level of corruption is inevitable.
Ann Scott talks about her work with the Public Sector Management Commission and the major reforms in which she was involved, including the privatisation of correctional facilities, the changes to the police service in line with the findings of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, and the rise of equal opportunity initiatives across the public service. She also reflects on the challenges posed to the reform agenda by the political cultures of individual departments.
Ann Scott discusses Native Title, Indigenous policies, and the vastly improved relations between the government and Indigenous people under the Goss Government.
Ross Rolfe recalls how in the 1980s the federal department had been involved in obtaining secure land title for Aboriginal people who had lived on reserves and Town and Country Reserves. Johnny Koowarta had successfuly taken the Queensland government to the High Court over the pastoral lease at Archer Bend, which in response was turned into the Archer Bend National Park (now Mungkan Kanju National Park). The Commonwealth then purchased an adjacent pastoral property in Cape York called Meripah Station which became the first pastoral lease transferred to Aboriginal people.
Judy Spence discusses her role as Police Minister during the Palm Island death in custody (2004), and her relationship with Aboriginal people having previously been Aboriginal Affairs Minister and her relationship with police officers throughout Queensland. She discusses the government's response to deaths in custody.
Ruth Matchett discusses land rights policy developments, and states that the legislation was compromised to appease pastoralists and miners. Despite good outcomes for people in the Torres Strait and the Cape especially the Wik people who also benefited from the Mabo decision (native title not related to land rights legislation), the concept of enabling Aboriginal people to claim and then be granted land from Aboriginal reserves and the Deed of Grant in Trust areas (DOGIT) resulted in only modest amounts of land eventually granted.
