Black rage mounting over death in custody

Respected aboriginal ex policeman, Col Dillon, has resigned in protest over the failure to prosecute over the death in custody of Palm Islander resident, Mulrunji Doomadgee.

His resignation came as Premier Peter Beattie said he would fly to Palm Island to explain the decision not to prosecute.

"I've penned my resignation as a consequence of this Government's handling of Indigenous affairs," Mr Dillon said.

"I don't see that it will be doing anything in the future - it has done very little in the past."

He derided Mr Beattie's visit saying he would be accompanied by a "conga line" of bureaucrats and that it would be accompanied by a bunch of pie in the sky promises.

The Premier says he is disappointed Mr Dillon has resigned, but disagrees with his criticism.

"I respect his right to have that view, but if Indigenous Australians are ever going to get a fair go the only way you're ever going to get that is through an independent DPP," he said.

"If you go back to the bad old days, which Col Dillon knows better than anybody - where there is an attempt by the government to interfere in the Director of Public Prosecutions - then that's a slippery slope."

Mr Beattie admitted the move not to charge Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee had not been "well explained" to the north Queensland community.

Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Leanne Clare last week found there was not enough evidence to charge Snr Sgt Hurley with Mulrunji's death.

The decision came despite a finding earlier in the year by deputy state coroner Christine Clements that the police officer inflicted the blows which killed Mr Doomadgee, 36, at the island's police station in November 2004.