The Liberal National Party has chosen 33-year-old Senior Constable Nathaniel Jones to challenge the Green’s Cr Sri in the Gabba Ward in the 2020 local government elections. The Gabba ward includes Kangaroo Point, Dutton Park, South Brisbane and West End.
In 2012 that same police officer arrested Uncle Kevin Veritz, a Yuggera man, for lighting a sacred fire in Musgrave Park. Jones claimed that Uncle Kevin had obstructed him in his duties. Kevin refused to allow Council Officer Scott McLoughlin to put out the sacred fire.
On 22 Oct 2014 Magistrate Callaghan later accepted evidence by Uncle Kevin that it was a sacred fire in the culture of his people. The Magistrate accepted Mr Vieritz explanation that there are two types of fires. One is a communal fire and has significance for the family and community and the other type of fire is the sacred fire around which the truth is to be spoken. It is a place for seeking help and is a place where new ideas are borne.
In response to the LNP’s selection of Snr Constable Jones to run against Councillor Sri Ian has composed this ballad of a bulliman with apologies to Bob Dylan (See attached).
Ballad of a Bulliman (lyrics)
Well, you walk into Musgrave like a copper, that you are
You put your conscience in your pocket and you’re a star *
You arrest Uncle Kevin and you stare
He only lit a fire, sacred to his people
The council officer said the fire may spread
Kevin never wasted a stick of wood in his life
And the ground lay bare
But you think blackfellas are stupid, don’t you, Mr Jones?
Auntie yells out "He’s a traditional owner, he is,
you’re makin’ a big mistake, aren’t you, Mr Jones.”
But you don’t pay her any mind
You’re gonna ‘improve lighting around Musgrave Park‘.
It’s for them whitefellas, isn’t it, Mr Jones?
Gonna put them lights down Orleigh Park too, you say,
if those toffs down let you have your way
Well you’ve been with the Big Wigs at City Hall
They decided to back you against Councillor Sri
cos he has been challenging City Hall connections
with those big developers, hasn’t he?
Of course you will say nothing about that, will you, Mr Jones?
The moneymen all thought you’re a good style of bloke, haven’t they?
You say you want to help the homeless, don’t you Mr Jones?
Was you being clever with Uncle Kevin
you took away his permission from returning to his land
The fire is a place where the truth is told
And new ideas are borne
But you don't understand , do you, Mr Jones?
* with apologies to Bob Dylan
Image: Uncle Kevin Vieritz carries the sacred fire into Musgrave Park in 2012.
