Ku Klux Klan Official Jailed for Accessory to Murder

A Ku Klux Klan official jailed for eight years has confessed to being an accessory to murder.

46 year old Graeme Frederick McNeil, pleaded guilty in the Queensland Supreme Court to helping his Year 11 student, Anthony Rowlingson, cover up the killing of his brother.

Anthony murdered his older brother Robert, after he discovered Ku Klux Klan material on a laptop lent to him by his teacher McNeil.

Anthony Rowlingson pleaded guilty in 2007 to the murder of his brother and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

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Most People Shot Dead by Victorian Police Have Been Mentally Ill

Research has found that most people shot dead by Victorian Police have been mentally ill.

The study of 48 police shootings found more than 87 per cent of victims had schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses.

This is despite a police plan to tackle the number of fatal shootings. 

James Ogloff, Monash University researcher, said the figures are a tragedy and has called for more police training so 
officers can help people in emotional distress.
 
Ian Hickie, the executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, said just 2 per cent of government health 
spending went to tackling mental illness.

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Indigenous Artists Not Invited to PM’s Sit-down Dinner

Indigenous artists not been invited to a dinner at the Prime Minister’s Lodge aimed at easing concerns about how the arts sector has been treated under Labor.

The Prime Minister’s office assembled two dozen performing arts leaders for the meeting however no guests at the April 23^rd sit-down were indigenous.

Aden Ridgeway, the former Australian Democrats senator and chairman of the internationally renowned Bangarra Dance 
Theatre, says these dinners rarely occur and it was vital for a leader to canvass broad range of views. 
 
Mr Ridgeway said the omission sent the message the Prime Minister's office considered indigenous companies a niche concern.

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Mandatory Detoxification Plan to Counter Problems in Townsville

A pilot plan to address homelessness and public drunkenness may be introduced in Townsville to counter spiraling problems.

The plan includes mandatory detoxification through rehabilitation rather than punishing serial public nuisance and drunken offenders.

Police had almost 5000 interactions with homeless people over an eight month period last year, seizing over 3000 litres of liquor and issuing over 2200 public nuisance notices.

Queensland Attorney General Cameron Dick says incarceration costs Queensland in excess of $60, 000 and this 
money could be spent on rehabilitating people by in addressing their alcohol problem and preventing them engaging 
in anti-social behaviour.

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