Chloe Hooper: The Tall Man - A Reading Guide

Background

The Tall Man Timeline

19 November 2004: At around 10.20am Cameron Doomadgee is arrested by Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley for swearing at him. Forty minutes later, Doomadgee is dead in the Palm Island police station. That afternoon, police detectives, who include Hurley’s close friends, arrive on the island to begin their investigation. Hurley claims Doomadgee tripped on a step.

26 November 2004: Doomadgee’s autopsy results are announced at a public meeting on Palm Island. He died from massive internal injuries, which the pathologist claims are the result of ‘a fall.’ Hundreds of Palm Islanders riot, burning down the police station and Senior Sergeant Hurley’s residence. Hurley goes into hiding on the mainland.

28 February 2005: A coroner’s inquest into Doomadgee’s death begins on Palm Island. Within days the State Coroner, Michael Barnes, stands down due to objections over his role clearing Senior Sergeant Hurley of prior complaints while working at Queensland’s Crime and Justice Commission.

1 August 2005: The inquest recommences, now overseen by the Deputy State Coroner, Christine Clements.

27 September 2006: Clements hands down her findings, claiming Hurley lost his temper and fatally assaulted Doomadgee. She writes to Queensland’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, recommending her office consider laying criminal charges.

14 December 2006: Clare announces she will not be charging Senior Sergeant Hurley.

23 December 2006: Bowing to public and media pressure, Attorney General Kerry Shine announces there will be an independent review of the case’s evidence.

26 January 2007: Shine announces that senior legal figures, Sir Laurence Street and Peter Davis SC, have reviewed the evidence and determined there is enough evidence to prosecute Hurley. Hurley is the first police officer in Australia charged over a death in custody.

12 June 2007: Hurley stands trial for the assault and manslaughter of Cameron Doomadgee.

20 June 2007: Hurley is acquitted.

Present: Hurley has mounted legal action to have the Deputy Coroner’s findings against him reversed. The Australian reported Hurley had been paid $100,000 by the Police Department for affects lost in the 2004 riot, as well as claiming insurance. Hurley is being sued by the Doomadgee family for damages.

Questions

The Tall Man is as much about the place of the crime as the crime itself. Do you agree?

“There is happiness on Palm Island. And contradiction is in the matter of being alive.’ Look at how life on the island is depicted and the impact this life has on its residents.

Look at how Chloe Hooper depicts Chris Hurley. How much sympathy, if any, do you have for him?

Most of the power of The Tall Man derives from the manner in which Chloe Hooper describes the crime and depicts its main players. Her constant questioning of events and motivations leads to a complex exploration of an horrific deed. How does this method alter your understanding of the event? How does it add to your understanding of the situation?

‘Gladys Nugent stood for everything white Australia doesn’t want to know about black Australia. She was alcoholic, diabetic, and she had heart trouble. She told the court about drinking all day and night, being bashed ... She had a plain, obstinate dignity.’ Look at the differences in socially accepted behaviour between the Aboriginals on Palm Island and the white policemen and lawyers. Explore how these differing groups interact with each other and look at how much or how little they understand each other.

The Tall Man is interspersed with passages about Aboriginal culture and beliefs. How do these add to the book?