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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Ben Smee and Andrew Messenger

Queensland government ‘opens old wounds’ as police officer criticised after Palm Island riots appointed to Legal Aid board

Darren Robinson Legal Aid Police Deb Frecklington Queensland Mortimer Townsville
Queensland attorney general Deb Frecklington
Attorney general Deb Frecklington did not respond directly to questions about whether she had prior knowledge of Darren Robinson’s connection to events on Palm Island. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

The Queensland government has “opened old wounds” by appointing a former police detective who was heavily criticised for his role in events surrounding the 2004 riots on Palm Island to the state’s Legal Aid board, say First Nations community leaders and members of the legal fraternity.

The Liberal National party government sacked and replaced all Labor-appointed members of the Legal Aid Queensland board last month.

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