- Original Elder Arrested in Parliament as Constitutional Challenge Gathers
- By Andy Whiteley
- 24/06/2014 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: Rambo ( 29 articles in 2014 )
On 23rd March 2013, Australia’s disgraceful track-record in ‘Aboriginal relations’ reached a new low as police arrested and charged Ramindjeri Elder and senior Original Law man Lance ‘Karno’ Walker following an impassioned interjection in the South Australian parliament during debate over the SA ‘Aboriginal recognition’ Amendment Bill. He was charged with interrupting a public meeting, disorderly behaviour, failing to cease to loiter, resisting police and property damage.
What transpired within the walls of the SA Parliament House that day certainly beg questions of the SA Police. But the implications of Karno Walker’s story go much deeper; the political context of these events call into question the standing of Australia’s Governments in state, federal and international law, and the validity of the Commonwealth Government itself.
This article will examine in detail the events of Mr. Walker’s arrest as well as the legal and constitutional challenges surrounding it.
Please note: The word ‘Aboriginal’ is used in this article only in direct quotations of persons or legislations. In the English language, the prefix ‘Ab’ negates the adjective it precedes - eg. abnormal (not normal) and absent (not present). Therefore, the word ‘Aboriginal’ can be defined as ‘not original’ and although it is commonly used, I prefer the more accurate (and respectful) word ‘Original’...
...A statement made by witness and then-Member for the SA Legislative Council, Ann Bressington, corroborates Mr. Walker’s account.
“Sitting of parliament was suspended at 5:05pm because Karno was interjecting from the gallery during the debate, voicing his opposition…
“I went upstairs to the gallery to walk downstairs with Karno. The Black Rod and a security guard were speaking with Karno and were preparing to escort him to Centre Hall. I walked down with them.
“Karno… was not abusive or aggressive. He was speaking with the Black Rod in Centre Hall. I went outside to wait for him and immediately 4 or 5 police officers arrived.
“A security guard came outside and said to the police “It’s OK, he is ready to leave. We don’t need your assistance”.
“The Police officer responded “We’d rather just go in and rip him out now”.
“The police went inside and I followed. I witnessed the police officers walk up to Karno from behind and grab his arms. Karno swung around and the police officers then threw him to the ground… I did not hear the police officers identify themselves as police officers.” [emphasis added]
Karno Walker was arrested by 5 police officers, taken to the City Watch House, charged and subsequently granted bail. Mr. Walker continues the story:
“I was then dragged backwards outside, down the steps of Parliament House in to the public. [My wife] asked one officer… what was going on [and] he told her to “F*** off, this has nothing to do with you”…
“Just before crossing Station St., both Police Officers Reed and Devlin threatened me saying they were going to bash me once we arrived at City Watch House… I was interviewed some time after by the arresting officers; this interview was both recorded and videod.”
...
Full story and insightful arrest details
What transpired within the walls of the SA Parliament House that day certainly beg questions of the SA Police. But the implications of Karno Walker’s story go much deeper; the political context of these events call into question the standing of Australia’s Governments in state, federal and international law, and the validity of the Commonwealth Government itself.
This article will examine in detail the events of Mr. Walker’s arrest as well as the legal and constitutional challenges surrounding it.Please note: The word ‘Aboriginal’ is used in this article only in direct quotations of persons or legislations. In the English language, the prefix ‘Ab’ negates the adjective it precedes - eg. abnormal (not normal) and absent (not present). Therefore, the word ‘Aboriginal’ can be defined as ‘not original’ and although it is commonly used, I prefer the more accurate (and respectful) word ‘Original’...
Conflicting Accounts
...A statement made by witness and then-Member for the SA Legislative Council, Ann Bressington, corroborates Mr. Walker’s account.
“Sitting of parliament was suspended at 5:05pm because Karno was interjecting from the gallery during the debate, voicing his opposition…
“I went upstairs to the gallery to walk downstairs with Karno. The Black Rod and a security guard were speaking with Karno and were preparing to escort him to Centre Hall. I walked down with them.
“Karno… was not abusive or aggressive. He was speaking with the Black Rod in Centre Hall. I went outside to wait for him and immediately 4 or 5 police officers arrived.
“A security guard came outside and said to the police “It’s OK, he is ready to leave. We don’t need your assistance”.
“The Police officer responded “We’d rather just go in and rip him out now”.
“The police went inside and I followed. I witnessed the police officers walk up to Karno from behind and grab his arms. Karno swung around and the police officers then threw him to the ground… I did not hear the police officers identify themselves as police officers.” [emphasis added]
Karno Walker was arrested by 5 police officers, taken to the City Watch House, charged and subsequently granted bail. Mr. Walker continues the story:
“I was then dragged backwards outside, down the steps of Parliament House in to the public. [My wife] asked one officer… what was going on [and] he told her to “F*** off, this has nothing to do with you”…
“Just before crossing Station St., both Police Officers Reed and Devlin threatened me saying they were going to bash me once we arrived at City Watch House… I was interviewed some time after by the arresting officers; this interview was both recorded and videod.”
...
Full story and insightful arrest details
1Will not be visible to public.
2Receive notification of other comments posted for this article. To cease notification after having posted click here.
3To make a link clickable in the comments box enclose in link tags - ie.<link>Link</link>.
4To show an image enclose the image URL in tags - ie.<image>https://fredspage.com/box.jpg</image>. Note: image may be resized if too large
To further have your say, head to our forum Click Here
To contribute a news article Click Here
To view or contribute a Quote Click Here