NationStates Jolt Archive

For those of you who don't know there have been riots in Sydney, Australia for the last week or so. They were sparked when a one police car chased three teens in a stolen car which end by crashing, killing two of the occupants but not the driver who is at large.

The community blames the cops saying that they caused the deaths, the cops say they were doing their duty in chasing a dangerous driver in a speeding stolen car. The riots are in Sydney, the same city which had race riots just a little while ago in the Western suburbs.

These riots have gone on for several days at sporadic intervals. The funerals of the two teens killed in the car crash was held today, hopefully this will provide an end so that people can back to their lives in the area. Several police have been injured and a number of people, mostly young adults, have been arrested.

Article (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12448326-26618,00.html)
Police in blitz on riot suburb
By Paul Carter
March 05, 2005

POLICE swooped on houses in the Sydney suburb of Macquarie Fields overnight, arresting nine people and searching properties in the area that has been plagued by several days of riots.

As the police search for 20-year-old Jesse Kelly continued, about 50 officers in riot gear made lightning raids on houses in Costata Place, Blackwood Crescent and Peppermint Crescent after police were attacked with a bottle and threatened with poles.

Mr Kelly is believed to have been the driver of a stolen car which crashed during a police pursuit last Friday night, killing his friends Dylan Rayward, 17, and Matt Robertson, 19.

Mr Kelly's grandfather, Peter Perkins, last night revealed Mr Kelly believed his family had betrayed him by urging him to turn himself in to police.

"We tried for two days after the accident to talk him into handing himself in, and he believes we betrayed him because of that," Mr Perkins said.

After police searched houses and garages in the troubled suburb last night, a 16-year-old Macquarie Fields boy was arrested and charged with rioting, breach of bail, aggravated break, enter and steal, and four counts of car theft.

Police later said the charges of break, enter and steal related to an incident in February last year at Barden Ridge, in Sydney's south, in which four vehicles were stolen.

Four other people were arrested for street offences.

Another four - three men and a woman - were then arrested during a raid on a townhouse off Peppermint Crescent.

Residents in the premises held police at bay with poles and abused officers for 10 minutes before riot squad police moved in and made the arrests, bringing to nine the number of people detained.

Among those arrested for street offences was a 19-year-old Macquarie Fields man who was charged with malicious damage, throwing a missile, and offensive behaviour.

He was bailed to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on March 30.

An 18-year-old man was also arrested and charged with using offensive language and is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on the same day.

The police actions were condemned by Mr Perkins, who witnessed the operation.

"If they keep this up, somebody is going to get killed," Mr Perkins said.

"The police are trying to provoke a situation here tonight.

"This is overkill. I mean they have quietly searched these houses here tonight. They didn't need the TRG (Tactical Response Group).

"These people are not going to cause trouble."

Assistant Police Commissioner Denis Clifford said police had continued to search for "persons of interest" to Task Force Loudon, set up to investigate those responsible for this week's riots.

"Police have continued to patrol the area in and around Eucalyptus Drive at Macquarie Fields, including several vacant premises, seeking persons of interest.

"Task Force Loudon was formed to assist Macquarie Fields local area command in identifying and arresting those involved in disturbances earlier this week."

Meanwhile, Mr Perkins blamed an attack yesterday on a television camera operator in Macquarie Fields three hours after Mr Rayward's funeral in Leppington on media insensitivity towards mourners.

"I don't agree with it, but it was a bit insensitive," he said.

"The guys were at the shrine there. It's their shrine and you (media) go up to them and say 'how are you feeling?' and all this.

"That's a bit insensitive.

"OK, someone punched them and it's all on again."

The riots are in Sydney, the same city which had race riots just a little while ago in the Western suburbs.

The race riots were in Redfern, in the city (assuming we're talking about the TJ Hickey affair?), and these are in Southwest Sydney. *shifty*

Hey, I live in the Northwest. :p

But since I'm in Melbourne I don't really know too much about this, but I do know that the police have a way of harassing young people in the west, particularly... young people who look ethnic.

Edt: I'm from Sydney and go to uni in Melbourne, to clear up any confusion.

Redfern is not in Sydney? (Excuse me, I'm from Brisneyland!:D).

Redfern is not in Sydney? (Excuse me, I'm from Brisneyland!).
It is, just not the West. It's inner inner city. :p

OMG Brisvegas! lol. Are you a tanned blonde surfer? :p

Redfern is not in Sydney? (Excuse me, I'm from Brisneyland!:D).
Redfern's right in the city, while Macquarie Fields is in the south-west. The Redfern riots have little to do with the Macquarie Fields riots, except for the charges of police brutality.

This sounds so like events there this time last year.

It is, just not the West. It's inner inner city. :p

OMG Brisvegas! lol. Are you a tanned blonde surfer? :p

umm, no! LOL Sorry, you wanna look at the Gold Coast or Sunshine coast, or pretty much any coastal town in Queensland except Brisvegas. Brisbane is mudflats with mangrooves. They place the capital on the only stretch of coastline in the state that does not have golden beaches!:(

Redfern's right in the city, while Macquarie Fields is in the south-west. The Redfern riots have little to do with the Macquarie Fields riots, except for the charges of police brutality.

I never said they have a relation other than being riots in the same city within the same 12 month period, and I did attribute them to diffrent causes...

Brisbane is mudflats with mangrooves. They place the capital on the only stretch of coastline in the state that does not have golden beaches!

There there. Cairns is all mudflats too. :p And at least it's warmer than Melbourne. :(

... and weren't there riots in Tasmania recently too? I thought I heard that a police station had to be evacuated or something.

... and weren't there riots in Tasmania recently too? I thought I heard that a police station had to be evacuated or something.

You don't mean the sirport that had to be evacuated because of a mystery gas leak?

Redfern is not in Sydney? (Excuse me, I'm from Brisneyland!:D).

Really? You seemed smarter than that. :D

There there. Cairns is all mudflats too. :p And at least it's warmer than Melbourne. :(

Yes, and less likely to be shot by someone from an organized crime syndicate too!:)

You don't mean the sirport that had to be evacuated because of a mystery gas leak?

No, that was Melbourne. I heard on the TV that there were race-related riots in Tasmania a while back.

... and weren't there riots in Tasmania recently too? I thought I heard that a police station had to be evacuated or something.
...Riots? In Tassie?

Oh, and Patra Caesar, I think I misread what you said. I then responded in my usual brusque manner to remarks I find ill-thought-out. My sincere apologies.

Yes, and less likely to be shot by someone from an organized crime syndicate too!
lol. Watching Chopper is like taking a tour through the areas I've lived in Melbourne.

You don't mean the sirport that had to be evacuated because of a mystery gas leak?
That was Tullamarine in Melbourne.

Really? You seemed smarter than that. :D

Really? How disappointing!:( I deliberatly try and cultivate an aura of idiocy, simply so people won't see me as a threat and I can shock them and draw their attention when I do present a well thought out idea. ;)

You don't mean the sirport that had to be evacuated because of a mystery gas leak?

That was Tullamarine in Melbourne. Maybe the Taswegians were rioting about not being able to shag their brothers/sisters/parents (just for some outrageous stereotyping).

I heard on the TV that there were race-related riots in Tasmania a while back.
Are you sure? If so, I can't imagine why. The Tasmanian Aboriginals got wiped out more than a century ago. Maybe you meant the riots up on one of the Queensland Islands. (Bugger, forgot which one. Palm? Definitely not Fraser. Can someone else help me out?)

...Riots? In Tassie?

Oh, and Patra Caesar, I think I misread what you said. I then responded in my usual brusque manner to remarks I find ill-thought-out. My sincere apologies.

Quite alright matey!:)

Are you sure? If so, I can't imagine why. The Tasmanian Aboriginals got wiped out more than a century ago. Maybe you meant the riots up on one of the Queensland Islands. (Bugger, forgot which one. Palm? Definitely not Fraser. Can someone else help me out?)

Palm Island (not Pitcan as I previously stated) where that young Mr Goolagy (sp) died in police custody. Personally I think the issue will be the destroyed of Premier Peter Beattie, which I think is a shame.:( But when you hear a politician who you know is lying and maintains he is not there is always trouble. However if he was lying and didn't maintain he was telling the truth no one would care. This is Queensland, Sir Joh country. Bribery does make the government run more effectivly, just not the police.

...Riots? In Tassie?

Oh, and Patra Caesar, I think I misread what you said. I then responded in my usual brusque manner to remarks I find ill-thought-out. My sincere apologies.

*Curses the NZ media.*

That's what I heard on the news. Apparently a police station had to be evacuated... I'll see if I can an article or something.

The Tasmanian Aboriginals got wiped out more than a century ago.
That's a myth. There are still Aboriginal people in Tassie.
Maybe you meant the riots up on one of the Queensland Islands. (Bugger, forgot which one. Palm? Definitely not Fraser. Can someone else help me out?)
Palm Island.

Are you sure? If so, I can't imagine why. The Tasmanian Aboriginals got wiped out more than a century ago. Maybe you meant the riots up on one of the Queensland Islands. (Bugger, forgot which one. Palm? Definitely not Fraser. Can someone else help me out?)

I'm pretty sure it was Palm Island. Pretty much the opposite end of the country to Tassie.

Pitcan

Wasn't that the rape/indecent assault trials that involved about half the male population?

Pitcan

Wait. Palm Island. I think that was it now...

That's a myth. There are still Aboriginal people in Tassie.
Sorry. Full-blooded indigineous Tasmanians. Mainland Aborigines have since settled in Tassia, plus the part-Tasmanians who stuck around.

Palm Island.
Ah, thanks. Yeah, pretty far from Tasmania.

I'm pretty sure it was Palm Island. Pretty much the opposite end of the country to Tassie.

Well whatever, I don’t really take much notice of Australian geography. Though I was pretty sure that the TVNZ news report said Tasmania… but it was only a few seconds of coverage, so meh.

Wasn't that the rape/indecent assault trials that involved about half the male population?

Yes, my bad, sorry!

Sorry. Full-blooded indigineous Tasmanians. Mainland Aborigines have since settled in Tassia, plus the part-Tasmanians who stuck around.
Well, if they identify as Aboriginal, they're Aboriginal. :p This "full-blood" business is nonsene IMO. So there still could have been race riots. Plus there are some non-white immigrants to Tassie, although from my experience most of the locals are very welcoming.

Wasn't that the rape/indecent assault trials that involved about half the male population?

You mean Pitcairn?

Well, if they identify as Aboriginal, they're Aboriginal. :p This "full-blood" business is nonsene IMO. So there still could have been race riots. Plus there are some non-white immigrants to Tassie, although from my experience most of the locals are very welcoming.
To tell the truth, it's more the very concept of Tasmanians staging a riot over anything that gets me. Deep apologies to any Tasmanians reading this, but I'd prefer not to lie.

you think Australia has it bad? across the ditch in NZ we had people talking of civil war between the Maori and Pakeha (New Zealand Europeans) but we've definetly had our share of riots over racial issues

To tell the truth, it's more the very concept of Tasmanians staging a riot over anything that gets me. Deep apologies to any Tasmanians reading this, but I'd prefer not to lie.
True true, it's hard to believe something could happen at faster than a slow crawl down there... :p

True true, it's hard to believe something could happen at faster than a slow crawl down there... :p

What about a tree fallin, eh?:p

True true, it's hard to believe something could happen at faster than a slow crawl down there... :p

Yeah, I can't imagine 'em rioting either. The company I work for covers the Vic/Tas area from our Melbourne office, so I deal with Tassie folk all the time. Most of them are really friendly & helpful. It's pretty beautiful down there too.

What about a tree fallin, eh?:p

Only after they've had a chat about it for 15 minutes. :p

you think Australia has it bad? across the ditch in NZ we had people talking of civil war between the Maori and Pakeha (New Zealand Europeans) but we've definetly had our share of riots over racial issues

LMAO. You mean the NZAIF?

http://www.aardvark.co.nz/daily/2002/0723.shtml [great laugh]

http://groups.msn.com/NZAIFForum [even greater laugh]

Since declaring war on the New Zealand government several years ago, all they've done is hassle the BNZ head and not pay taxes. The police said they're an odd mix of crazy Maori radicals and White Supremacists, who dress up in camo-gear and wave guns around.

... oh I forgot, http://www.sharechat.co.nz/features/nbr/article.php/c66fcd78

Hmmm ... its not that big a thing now in Sydney from what I've seen on the tele tonight

( I'm posting to you live tonight from some-where near Newcastle :p )

Its been going on for ... five nights now ? And last night and tonight were minor because the riot police have finally pushed heavy patrols onto the streets and the S.W.A.T.-esque raids dragged off a few of the head trouble makers.

( Vaguely wonders why the hell we don't use water cannon ... in a lot of western countries just like us we'd have seen rubber bullets and CS / Tear gas by now ... Don't even get me started on the fact our cops don't get tasers but the jack-ass civil ibs whine about police shootings )

As far as New Zealand goes, a few weeks / months ago there was a major riot out-side their Parliment between Neo Nazis and Far Left / Communist Youth ... i think they're riot cops broke it up though.

( Riots in Tasmania ? Wow, don't here of THAT up here ... )

Pitcairn was the incest / rape dealie, and Palm was the native riots because of the Death in Custody of that fella.

( Just to clear up for any non-Au'ers who are reading this, ;) )

...

I've never seen this many fellow aussies in one thread, :D

As far as New Zealand goes, a few weeks / months ago there was a major riot out-side their Parliment between Neo Nazis and Far Left / Communist Youth ... i think they're riot cops broke it up though.

Yeah. The National Front guys... lmao. The police had been trying to keep the two groups seperate, but this car full of the NF supporters drove through their lines and things got a bit fisty.

I've never seen this many fellow aussies in one thread, :D
Quite true, quite true. Although, this is one my very few appearances in General. Maybe that's what it was. (The gathering of the Aussies, mind. Not the riots)

I've never seen this many fellow aussies in one thread, :D

You should have read a few of the cricket ones. It's a pretty sad indictment of us considering it's Saturday night.

If I was in Sydney I'd SO be at the Mardi Gras right now! :mad:

If I was in Sydney I'd SO be at the Mardi Gras right now! :mad:

Is that on this weekend? I didn't even realise. Too much hype about the Grand Prix.

Enn, stay back, " there be dragons here " :p

...

Cricket ? Ewww, bad enough my old man watches it when-ever it is on in the lounge. Mind you, most saturday nights I stay home to watch The Bill.

Now THAT is sad, I reckon ... :(

Preebles, if I had abs as against my ( very flat, at least ) " one-pack " I would be too, :P

Oh, and JRV, I recall pics of riot cops breaking them up. Must have been fun. Commies AND facists, :D

If I was in Sydney I'd SO be at the Mardi Gras right now! :mad:

Why? Do you think it's the police fault (?). I personally think it's tragic, but those kids shouldn't have run. well, they shouldn't have stole a car in the first place.

Although sometimes if the driver drives too recklessly the police tend to backoff. But it's a judgement call. I don't think you can blame it on the police, their just doing their duty. And the level of 'reckless' is debatable again.

Why? Do you think it's the police fault (?). I personally think it's tragic, but those kids shouldn't have run. well, they shouldn't have stole a car in the first place.

Although sometimes if the driver drives too recklessly the police tend to backoff. But it's a judgement call. I don't think you can blame it on the police, their just doing their duty. And the level of 'reckless' is debatable again.

I've already said that I can't make a judgement... However I DID note that, particularly in Western Sydney, the police do nothing to endear themselves to teh youth. They're constantly harassing young people, particularly if they look/act a certain way... And the police do tend to escalate these things.

And now that I think about it, it is quite similar to the TJ Hickey/Redfern riots thing. I mean, police (allegedly, in the case of Redfern) chase ayoung person, who dies, sparking riots.

I've already said that I can't make a judgement... However I DID note that, particularly in Western Sydney, the police do nothing to endear themselves to teh youth. They're constantly harassing young people, particularly if they look/act a certain way... And the police do tend to escalate these things.

And now that I think about it, it is quite similar to the TJ Hickey/Redfern riots thing. I mean, police (allegedly, in the case of Redfern) chase ayoung person, who dies, sparking riots.

They chased a kid who was a known offender, and as it turned out, was carrying drugs at the time.

In Macquarie Fields, they chased a stolen car, like they would have in any other suburb. The reason that there's a heavy police presence there in the first place is because it's mostly Housing Commission over there and there's a huge level of economic and social problems, which in turn breeds a rather large crime rate.

I've already said that I can't make a judgement... However I DID note that, particularly in Western Sydney, the police do nothing to endear themselves to teh youth. They're constantly harassing young people, particularly if they look/act a certain way... And the police do tend to escalate these things.

Ok, I think some policemen needs to be re-evaluated, I remember there's a big hooha few years back (I think it was 2002, I was in Melbourne then) during the New Year in Melbourne where police pepper-sprayed a poor drunk passerby few times in the face :p when all he did was playing a fool in front of the tv-camera making funny faces. Hence the cloud of suspicion over them.

Until people stop making excuses and throwing money at people in these areas to cover up the hopelessness and lawlessness of these areas nobody will be any better off.
TJ Hickey died unemployed and illiterate with a long history of crime. His case is not unusual in Redfearn.
The riots only went on as long as they did in Macquarie Fields because the police were ordered not to "enflame" the situation so they were forced to stand there while being pelted with rocks and molotov cocktails. What message does such inaction send to the youths of not only that area but everywhere? Break enough laws, be violent enough and we'll let you sort yourselves out?

I feel sorry for the police who are left high and dry by "feel good" government policy and the reinforcement of the "poor me" victim mentality of some people in this country. Who the hell would want to be a police officer these days when you put your life on the line everyday only to have to justify every action you make in order to enforce the laws of the land?

Nobody was arrested on Palm Island despite the court house being burnt down and the local police station set alight while police were still inside. Not to mention the other vandalism that took place. Again, what message does this send to the youth on Palm Island?