Australian Aboriginal prisoner 'cooked to death' in van

[littlebabyjesus]

Just goes to show the police and corrective services are the same the world over. You could put a racism slant on this if you wanted to, but it is more about police attitudes than anything.

Why would anyone do that, eh?

Maybe because of the fucking disgusting history of treatment of Aboriginal people in Aus. You think Aboriginal people are not still over-represented in incidents of abuse such as this? If you do think that, you are dead wrong.

 

[Upchuck]

Aboriginal people are over represented in arrests and imprisonment, so naturally they are somewhat over represented in all and cases such as this. It's police and custodial officer attitudes that need changing. Any dickhead would know transporting someone in a van across the Nullabor is foolish.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Aboriginal people are over represented in arrests and imprisonment, so naturally they are somewhat over represented in all and cases such as this.

Think again. Within the penal regime, they are treated with more brutality than white prisoners. I'll dig out the figures if you don't believe me.

It's not as bad as it was 30 years ago. Then again, 30 years ago, the situation was fucking terrible.

 

[Jazzz]

I think you've got your figures wrong Upchuck, they're over-represented but still only 20% of the prison population, so majority of offenders are white.

However, when it comes to dying in the back of a van, yes I'm sure they have the upper hand.

 

[ViolentPanda]

And 47°C was outside ... can you imagine what the temperature must have been like inside the van? How could they have not realised?

If their prison transports are anything like ours, the cabs will be ventilated or a/c'd.

 

[Upchuck]

I think you've got your figures wrong Upchuck, they're over-represented but still only 20% of the prison population, so majority of offenders are white.

However, when it comes to dying in the back of a van, yes I'm sure they have the upper hand.

Agree with your figures actually. Aboriginal people do not operate well in confined spaces, and also have alcohol and DT complications often. Then again noone operates well in the back of a metal van in searing heat. I think this story is also about the types of people that are in police and corrective services and 'security' jobs.

Then again, payday out in the Nthern Territory is no fun either and I suppose after a while many of the police would become embittered, cynical, and souless.

 

[badco]

If their prison transports are anything like ours, the cabs will be ventilated or a/c'd.

i'm pretty sure without reading it again that the article said there was no air conditioning.

 

[badco]

I think this story is also about the types of people that are in police and corrective services and 'security' jobs.

Then again, payday out in the Nthern Territory is no fun either and I suppose after a while many of the police would become embittered, cynical, and souless.

It's nothing to do with the police

 

[cesare]

If their prison transports are anything like ours, the cabs will be ventilated or a/c'd.

The cabs perhaps (as opposed to the trailer/s, or whatever you call em). But even in my own limited experience of driving in Australia, you pretty much stay aware of the heat.

My own limited experience being Sydney and surrounds, up to the Hunter Valley, up to Newcastle ... hardly the exposed expanse of the SW Goldfields.

 

[Upchuck]

It's nothing to do with the police

It's to do with attitudes and workplace culture. Just chucking someone in the back of a roasting van sums up some attitudes at work in police and corrective, security services. I understand the van and transport was contracted out to a security firm. Either way, many blind eyes or nods of acceptance must have occurred for this method of transport to be deemed ok.

 

[Upchuck]

[upsidedownwalrus]The casual racism I've encountered from even quite well educated, middle class aussies, teaching in China was quite shocking.

One of them was telling me about when he lived quite near my neck of the woods, in Dalston.

"It was OK," he said, "But there were too many niggers."

I don't believe that. That is not a word common in Australia so either the person you were talking to was 80, or you made this up.

 

[tarannau]

Well if it's compensation I've heard the same charming racial epithet from a 50yr old Perth resident and policeman to boot. On more than a few occasions.

I've also played against some cunting nightmare aus rugby players who lived up to the unpleasant larrikin stereotype more than you'd believe possible.

 

[cesare]

It's to do with attitudes and workplace culture. Just chucking someone in the back of a roasting van sums up some attitudes at work in police and corrective, security services. I understand the van and transport was contracted out to a security firm. Either way, many blind eyes or nods of acceptance must have occurred for this method of transport to be deemed ok.

The prison transport company already had a bad record with transportation of immigration detainees: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/5651621/death-the-latest-scandal-for-prison-transport-firm/

No mention of their record with white prisoners.

 

[Upchuck]

Well if it's compensation I've heard the same charming racial epithet from a 50yr old Perth resident and policeman to boot. On more than a few occasions.

I've also played against some cunting nightmare aus rugby players who lived up to the unpleasant larrikin stereotype more than you'd believe possible.

As I said situations like this come down topolice and security attitudes and cultures.

Load of stuff happens on rugby pitches! Bet few blokes come up and yank you by the nads in general life!

 

[ViolentPanda]

i'm pretty sure without reading it again that the article said there was no air conditioning.

There never is in the passenger compartment, I'm talking about the driver's compartment.

 

[asbestos]

It was originally very clearly a derogatory term, one that has now been in some ways claimed by those it refers to, a bit like queer by homosexuals. But, like the word queer, it has different meanings depending on how it's used. The term queer can be and is still used in a derogatory way by heterosexual bigots, and I don't doubt for a second that the term wog is similarly still used.

I am sure it is, but so what? my experience is the term has 'lost it's power' in Australia (not that I have any experience of it used in the past), and therefore it's use becomes something other than a Racist slur (capital R).

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I am sure it is, but so what? my experience is the term has 'lost it's power' in Australia (not that I have any experience of it used in the past), and therefore it's use becomes something other than a Racist slur (capital R).

Just because gay people may call themselves poofs, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's ok for you to do so with your homophobic mates.

That's so what. Context is important.

 

[asbestos]

Just because gay people may call themselves poofs, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's ok for you to do so with your homophobic mates.

What the fuck are you talking about? We were talking about the term 'wog', which despite its prevalent use by my work colleagues (a mixture of Lebanese and Greek) is still a word I would rather not use myself (pasty white cunt from the UK).

My point is that by claiming the word you take away it's power, and that is a good thing.

 

[Poi E]

Oi oi oi!

What a place.

 

[Crispy]

What the fuck are you talking about? We were talking about the term 'wog', which despite its prevalent use by my work colleagues (a mixture of Lebanese and Greek) is still a word I would rather not use myself (pasty white cunt from the UK).

My point is that by claiming the word you take away it's power, and that is a good thing.

context is always king.

"yo nigger, what up?" - "we cool"
This is fine and dandy
"could I have a tuna sandwich please?" - "get out of my restaurant, nigger"
Not good, no way

 

[asbestos]

context is always king.

"yo nigger, what up?" - "we cool"
This is fine and dandy
"could I have a tuna sandwich please?" - "get out of my restaurant, nigger"
Not good, no way

Did you actually read what I wrote?

And your above example is flawed.

"yo nigger, what up?" - "Fuck You"
This is fine and dandy
"could I have a tuna sandwich please?" - "No problem, nigger"
Not good, no way

 

[Crispy]

meh, I didn't make much effort, no. ignore. carry on.

 

[cesare]

*bumped to make it easier searching*