New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has pre-empted a petition calling for
the re-opening of a coronial inquiry into the death of Aboriginal
teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey.
TJ Hickey died a year ago in the Sydney suburb of Redfern after he was
impaled on a fence when he lost control of his bike.
A memorial service has been held for the teenager in the north-western
New South Wales town of Walgett, where he is buried.
On the weekend, hundreds of people gathered in Redfern to mark the first
anniversary.
News of his death sparked a nine-hour riot in Redfern, during which
police were pelted with bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs.
Mr Carr, who has already ruled out a re-opening of the inquiry, says
while he understands the family's grief, a petition due to be handed to
the State Government today will not change his mind.
"We've had a coronial inquiry, it took 600 pages of evidence, there are
no grounds for re-opening it," he said.
Mr Carr praised the Aboriginal leadership involved in the weekend's
commemoration, saying great restraint had been shown. |
