31:
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investigation", revealed the recipients of the compensation spent some of their money on cars and boats. Its online report, titled "Palm Island riot compensation spent on luxury boats, sports cars and motorbikes" reported that some of the compensation money paid to the class action recipients had
258:
Justice
Mortimer also ordered that the State of Queensland pay $ 95,000 in compensation to Lex Wotton, $ 10,000 to Agnes Wotton, and $ 115,000 to Cecilia Wotton. According to the Wottons' legal team, the judgment left the door open for potentially hundreds of claims for compensation by Aboriginal
241:
The
Wottons' legal team included Lex Wotton's long-standing lawyer, Stewart Levitt of law firm Levitt Robinson Solicitors, as well as prominent anti-discrimination barrister Chris Ronalds SC, Aboriginal barrister Joshua Creamer, and barrister Shaneen Pointing.
250:
The initial trial of the claims of Lex, Agnes and
Cecilia Wotton, and the issues common to their claims and the claims of the class members was heard in Townsville over a total of 22 days, between September 2015 and May 2016. On 5 December 2016,
202:
of
Mulrunji Doomadgee on 19 November 2004, the subsequent protests by the community, which led to the police station being burned down on 26 November 2004, and the police response to those protests. The first applicant in the class action,
355:. Stewart Levitt of Levitt Robinson Solicitors said that the report was inaccurate and racist, implying that Palm Islanders did not deserve the compensation and were spending it irresponsibly. The community subsequently sued Nine in the
230:
people who lived on Palm Island against the State of
Queensland and the Commissioner of the Police Service, alleging that the police had committed acts of unlawful racial discrimination, in breach of section 9(1) of the
290:
On 28 February 2017, D'Ath announced to the parliament that the appeal was being withdrawn after the State had received "a further considered legal advice about the state's prospects of success on appeal".
608:
457:
660:
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handed down a 1,806 paragraph judgment, making nine declarations that the police had engaged in acts of unlawful racial discrimination, for which the State was vicariously liable.
556:
634:
713:
214:
The case was heard between
September 2015 and May 2016, with an appeal brought and then withdrawn in early 2017. In May 2018, the plaintiffs were granted a
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instructed the Crown
Solicitor to file an appeal from Justice Mortimer's judgment. The decision was quickly denounced by the State Member for Townsville,
487:
331:". While it reported on one man who had invested money for his family, it also cited a teenager who had bought three cars, and the sale of a boat for
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579:
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238:(Cth) in the investigation into Mulrunji's death in custody and in the subsequent police response to the unrest in the community.
402:
345:
382:
199:
749:
528:
232:
84:
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In 2013, Lex Wotton, as well as his wife
Cecilia and Mother Agnes, filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of
502:
661:"Palm Island residents launch human rights complaint over 'racist' Channel Nine and Daily Mail reports"
442:
356:
272:
41:
754:
180:
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By May 2020, not all of the money had been distributed, owing to errors in the list of recipients.
188:
284:
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184:
438:
129:
121:
113:
73:
105:
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In May 2018, the 447 members of the community involved in the class action were granted a
8:
372:
276:
204:
687:"Palm Islanders to launch action against Channel Nine, Daily Mail over 'racist' reports"
635:"Nine News Palm Island investigation reveals people awarded money went out and spent it"
714:"Nine hit with discrimination class action over $ 30M Palm Island settlement coverage"
377:
192:
280:
208:
609:"Palm Island riot compensation spent on luxury boats, sports cars and motorbikes"
283:, whose electorates include Palm Island and both of whom were members of D'Ath's
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252:
144:
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553:"Palm Island riots class action payout 'slap in face' to police, union says"
30:
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580:"'It's about healing': Palm Islanders to share $ 30m class action payment"
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Unlawful racial discrimination; representative proceedings (class actions)
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million dollar settlement and an apology by the
Queensland Government.
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In August 2020 a group of Palm
Islanders lodged a complaint with the
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residents of Palm Island who were affected by the police conduct.
536:
218:-dollar settlement and an apology by the Queensland Government.
56:
State of Queensland & Commissioner of the Police Service
211:", and was subsequently convicted of "riot causing damage".
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printed an article substantially based on the Nine report.
417:"Palm Island Residents Racial Discrimination class action"
198:
The class action arose out of the events surrounding the
527:
Yvette D'Ath, Attorney-General (28 February 2017).
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Lex Wotton, was alleged to have been the "ring leader"
529:"Wotton and Ors v the State of Queensland and Anor"
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456:
736:
540:. Queensland: Legislative Assembly. p. 264.
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405:. Federal Court of Australia. 5 December 2016.
267:In January 2017, Queensland Attorney-General
52:Lex Wotton, Agnes Wotton & Cecilia Wotton
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403:"Wotton v State of Queensland - online file"
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684:
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29:
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473:"Qld police appeal Palm Island decision"
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503:"Parliament.TV - Queensland Parliament"
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323:"been spent on luxury items including
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693:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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632:
685:Wainwright, Sofie (20 August 2020).
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577:
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16:2016 Australian class action lawsuit
423:
419:. Levitt Robinson. 31 January 2016.
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13:
712:Bolza, Miklos (13 December 2021).
475:. Brisbane Times. 19 January 2017.
346:Australian Human Rights Commission
14:
766:
383:2004 Palm Island death in custody
745:Federal Court of Australia cases
659:Meade, Amanda (21 August 2020).
559:from the original on 10 May 2018
488:"MPs against Palm Island appeal"
455:Anderson, C (22 December 2016).
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705:
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537:Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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85:Racial Discrimination Act 1975
1:
633:Meade, Amanda (22 May 2020).
551:Lily, Nothling (2 May 2018).
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275:, and the Federal Member for
607:Heinke, Alex (18 May 2020).
179:and the Commissioner of the
175:lawsuit brought against the
7:
366:
207:in what police called the "
10:
771:
578:Chen, David (1 May 2018).
435:Wotton v Queensland (No 5)
357:Federal Court of Australia
195:in Queensland, Australia.
42:Federal Court of Australia
24:Wotton v Queensland (No 5)
507:www.parliament.qld.gov.au
352:Racial Discrimination Act
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234:Racial Discrimination Act
181:Queensland Police Service
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458:"Islanders in compo bid"
441: (5 December 2016),
169:Palm Island Class Action
439:[2016] FCA 1457
295:Class action settlement
200:death in police custody
189:Torres Strait Islanders
130:[2015] FCA 1075
122:[2015] FCA 1074
114:[2015] FCA 1073
74:[2016] FCA 1457
750:2016 in Australian law
491:. Townsville Bulletin.
461:. Townsville Bulletin.
335:. On 19 May 2020, the
285:Australian Labor Party
185:Aboriginal Australians
106:[2015] FCA 910
228:Indigenous Australian
555:. The Courier Mail.
310:Alleged vilification
373:Trial of Lex Wotton
350:Section 18C of the
327:, luxury boats and
177:State of Queensland
164:Wotton v Queensland
378:Great Palm Island
183:on behalf of 447
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80:Legislation cited
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755:2016 in case law
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314:On 18 May 2020,
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253:Justice Mortimer
222:The class action
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136:Court membership
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65:5 December 2016
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48:Full case name
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443:Federal Court
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361:A$ 30 million
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281:Cathy O'Toole
278:
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273:Scott Stewart
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246:Initial trial
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216:A$ 30-million
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98:Prior actions
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721:. Retrieved
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695:. Retrieved
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668:. Retrieved
665:the Guardian
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642:. Retrieved
639:the Guardian
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616:. Retrieved
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510:. Retrieved
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329:dune buggies
316:Nine Network
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269:Yvette D'Ath
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191:who live on
173:class action
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93:Case history
83:
51:
18:
723:11 November
325:sports cars
193:Palm Island
171:case) is a
151:Area of law
739:Categories
389:References
338:Daily Mail
145:Mortimer J
697:25 August
670:25 August
644:25 August
618:25 August
333:A$ 70,000
718:Lawyerly
691:ABC News
584:ABC News
557:Archived
512:15 March
367:See also
348:, under
318:, in a "
70:Citation
589:5 March
277:Herbert
62:Decided
563:12 May
263:Appeal
613:9News
532:(PDF)
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320:9News
301:A$ 30
167:(the
128:
120:
112:
104:
88:(Cth)
38:Court
725:2022
699:2020
672:2020
646:2020
620:2020
591:2020
565:2018
514:2017
359:for
236:1975
187:and
126:No 4
118:No 3
110:No 2
102:No 1
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599:^
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425:^
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54:v
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