High Court backs alcohol ban targeting indigenous people A woman from Palm Island challenged alcohol restrictions on the island, claiming they targeted indigenous people. The High Court has accepted an indigenous woman's argument that alcohol restrictions on a Queensland island targeted indigenous people, but has rejected her bid to have the restrictions removed. Joan Maloney, an indigenous resident of Palm Island, was convicted of possessing a bottle of rum and a bottle of bourbon in a public place, in breach of the island's alcohol restrictions. The grandmother argued the restrictions breached the Racial Discrimination Act, because the Palm Island community, 65 kilometres north-west of Townsville, is composed almost entirely of indigenous people. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the High Court found the restrictions were inconsistent with a section of the Racial Discrimination Act, which provides for equal treatment regardless of race. But that section did not apply if the law in question was a "special measure" designed to secure the advancement of a racial group. The High Court found the alcohol restrictions - introduced by the state government in 2006 - were valid because they were designed to protect the residents of Palm Island from the effects of alcohol abuse and related violence. On Wednesday, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the federal government wanted to continue to see strong alcohol controls but needed to look at the judgment. "We've just received the High Court judgment so of course we'll have to consider it very carefully," she told reporters. I am a very strong supporter of the need for alcohol management plans. I understand as do many, many Aboriginal leaders, the devastation of alcohol to their families, women and children in particular. But Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said the ruling equates to the same excuse used to justify the removal of indigenous children from their families, and other paternalistic policies throughout history. ""I thought those days were over ... (but) that's always going to be the case with a lot our issues - the "white is right" mentality,"" Mr Lacey said. ""It's disappointing to say that. It kills self-determination and economic prosperity in Aboriginal people."" However state Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Minister Glen Elmes said the decision put the legality of the plans beyond doubt. ""Alcohol management plans were introduced as a special measure to reduce violence against women and children, and to increase social cohesion within communities,"" he said. ""That will continue to be the focus of Newman government programs and services."" Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said giving communities a say in the future of restrictions was the way forward. ""We'd argue that we've got to do something in Australia about the effect of alcohol abuse, the violence in our communities, but we'd also argue that the best responses to those sort of issues are ones where the community takes responsibility."" When asked if the ban was racist he said: ""I wouldn't say racist. I'd say discriminatory and that's what the High Court found.""