Aussie Values - a 'Fair Go'

A 'Fair Go' is one of the Australian values that PM John Howard thinks any newcomer to Australia should understand and embrace. I hope to regularly identify examples of a 'Fair Go' that prospective citizens might think about so they are better prepared to answer questions for any test they may have to undertake to become an Australian citizen.

Death of Mulrunji on Palm Island in Queensland in November 2004.
Mulrunji, an Aborigine, died in custody and after a long investigation the Deputy Coroner found that Sergeant Hurley was responsible for Mulrunji's death. (He had 4 broken ribs and a liver split in two, among other injuries.) The Qld Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, has decided, in December 2006, that no charges will be laid. The Qld Premier, Peter Beattie, would strongly support the DDP reviewing her decision but thinks he can't do more. Instead of being gutless and lacking leadership this is called giving the police officer who killed the Aborigine a 'Fair Go'. 'Blind Freddy' ( another Australian slang term that will be looked at later) knows what happened in the police cell on Palm Island but Queensland governments have a tradition of giving police a 'Fair Go' when it comes to Aboriginal deaths in custody. A 'Fair Go' is giving someone a chance or a second chance when they have stuffed up or have had a bad run. Sergeant Hurley stuffed up. He killed a man in his custody. But because he is a policeman and most importantly Mulrunji was an Aborigine he is being given a 'Fair Go' and will not be punished.