Call for 'complete overhaul' of Indigenous communities in wake of Kowanyama tragedy

As police charge a 55-year-old man with murder for allegedly crashing his 4WD into a Kowanyama home, Indigenous advocate Tania Major calls for an 'overhaul' of Cape York communities.


A Kowanyama man will face court in Cairns today charged with the murder of a 48-year-old woman after he allegedly crashed through a house following a community funeral on Friday morning.

Police this morning charged Gary Hudson, 55, following the incident which also injured more than 25 people, including 12 who were seriously injured and flown out of the community to hospitals in Cairns and Townsville.

Former Kowanyama resident and Indigenous advocate Tania Major took to social media in the wake of the tragedy to call for a "complete overall of the state of affairs in these communities".

"It's a sad sad day for my family at home in Kowanyama," Ms Major said.

"My heart and thoughts go out to each and everyone - my elders, my big mothers and sisters.

"I just want to make it clear that I really do hope that this tragic event is not just a news story to fill headlines for the next few hours then like all news stories disappear into nothingness like most issues in remote Aboriginal Communities in Cape York.

"But an opportunity for a complete overall of the state of affairs in these communities.

"The question is what now? Will there be more additional counsellors added to the already underfunded mental health program in community to deal with the psychological affects of this tragic event?

"Indigenous mental health is definitely under serviced and under funded. This is just one symptom of the bigger problem."