Dear editor,
I have been reading for a week-odd that the NT coppers are still waiting for the analysis of the liquid that was allegedly thrown at police during a demonstration. This is utter bullshit.
I was an analytical chemist for 45 years before retirement. During a period of employment with the NT DPI, (DPIF at times), at the Berrimah Farm Research Laboratories, between December 1998 and December 2001 supervised the plant and soil section.
I and my staff performed forensic analyses for the NT Police, including looking for organic or inorganic contaminants in water, suspected drugs, and looking for lead in bones of suspected petrol-sniffers. I performed much of the non-routine work personally.
* Waters – inorganic constituents and contaminants determined by the waters and the plant and soil sections. The waters section was responsible for natural and potable waters and the plant and soil section was responsible for agricultural waters.* Waters – organic constituents and contaminants determined by pesticides section.* Drugs – Not personally analysed by me, but my predecessor in the role left written reports of his work. Reports which I have read, and which were on file.* Lead in bones – I did analyse those, but they were not always human bones. Some farmers like to save money by using old batteries in lieu of salt licks. So it is not rare for a beast to die of lead poisoning.* Although I was not personally involved, BAL also had a specialised pathology section which was capable of and accredited for testing for microbiological factors.
At that time, 20 years ago, the NT Police had not quite finished their “world-class” forensic facility at the Peter McCauley Centre. It has been operational now for quite some years. Several very competent people with whom I had worked over the years were recruited as scientists.
However, even if samples were sent elsewhere for professional analyses, the results would be known within a few days. That is the industry standard with such analyses.
So why are the police not releasing the results? A very good question indeed. Could it be that the whole story was concocted by the police to point culpability at the demonstrators, distract attention from the issue itself, and generally muddy the waters?
With my experience, I would have to conclude that something is very much not right in this matter.
I would hope that the NT Independent will go hard on this story. If the police are again playing games with misinformation, they should be exposed and sanctioned. A Commissioner who lies to the public should be sacked.
I’m 71-years old and have seen a lot during my youth in an inner suburb of Sydney, in mining and other industries, and in 40-odd years living and working in the NT. But the NT Police executive take the biscuit for bullshit. And they continually get away with it. Time to call them to account!
Geoff Kyle
Batchelor
Editor’s note: This letter has been updated with extra information about the type of tests conducted.
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