Police restore peace to embattled urban estate
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 12 Jan 2009: 6.
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Abstract
Acting NSW Opposition leader Andrew Stoner said Mr [Phillip Costa]'s initial refusal to visit the estate reeked of a "let them eat cake" mentality. He said thesituation had arisen from a complex set of social issues, and any refusal to visit the area would exacerbate tensions. "They feel disenfranchised and neglected by government, and this sort of attitude is inflaming the situation," Mr Stoner said. "He should get out of his limousine and talk to the people."
A HEAVY police presence has prevented a repeat of last week's mob violence in the troubled Rosemeadow housing estate in southwestern Sydney, but two women were charged over a brawl that left one of them with a broken nose.
Despite fears among police and community elders that there could be further rioting in the area, the confrontation between the two women on Macbeth Way late on Saturday evening was the only violent incident over the weekend.
The women, aged 19 and 40 respectively, were charged with affray. The 19-year-old was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
Police said the older woman was walking past a party being held at a neighbour's house on Macbeth Way, the site of most of the rioting during the week, when she was confronted by the younger woman. She suffered a broken nose and other facial injuries. She was charged after being released from Campbelltown Hospital and was released on conditional bail.
Both women will face court in the coming weeks.
Macbeth Way was the site of a riot last Monday involving 100 people, during which four males were stabbed and two shot.
Fifteen males have now been charged over the incident.
The last to be charged on Friday was David Whitmore, 30, who is being held at Penrith jail. He faced legal proceedings on Saturday.
His younger brothers, John, 26, and Les, 23, are also facing charges including affray and malicious wounding. None of them have applied for bail.
Court documents showed that after confrontations throughout the evening, Whitmore family members returned to the Rosemeadow estate around midnight carrying an assortment of knives, bats and poles.
The political fallout from the violence continued, with the local state member, Water Minister Phillip Costa, saying on Saturday he would not visit the estate while it remained dangerous, provoking derision from the Opposition. However, Mr Costa said yesterday he would be visiting the estate this week.
Acting NSW Opposition leader Andrew Stoner said Mr Costa's initial refusal to visit the estate reeked of a "let them eat cake" mentality. He said the situation had arisen from a complex set of social issues, and any refusal to visit the area would exacerbate tensions. "They feel disenfranchised and neglected by government, and this sort of attitude is inflaming the situation," Mr Stoner said. "He should get out of his limousine and talk to the people."
But a spokesman for Mr Costa said he had a profound understanding of the area's dynamics after living and working there for most of his life.
"He will be out there this week, now law and order has been restored. He will work closely with community leaders and the Department of Housing to improve services."
Editorial -- Page 13
Credit: John Stapleton
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