Jacob George said he was one of four people to arrange the march and it was in response to claims of police brutality in Mount Isa.

“But instead of going straight for the jugular of the police and cause a big ruckus, we organised several meetings with the police,” Mr George said.

“After those meetings we had a couple of community meetings and our community wanted to have a march, a protest march.”

Mr George said that once the idea of a march was agreed they spoke again with police.

“They said, alright, providing there was no heavy stuff in that march, no drunks, no carrying on and all that,” sort of stuff,” he said.

“We wanted a peaceful march and have better working relationships with the police going forward.

Mr George said they want police respect and they (the police) wanted the community respect.

“Respect, you can’t buy it, you’ve got to earn it,” he said.

“If police can address their issues we’ll talk to our mob too.”

People from the community accompanied by members of the police including Acting Inspector Chris Hodgman joined the march which went from Outback at Isa to the police station.

Acting Inspector Hodgman said he was fully behind the initiative.

“The flags said it all,” he said.

“We want respect from boths and we’ve had community meetings with people in Pioneer about how we can help the relationship flourish.”

Mr George said one of the issues he wanted to highlight was when people were locked up in the police station cells they were not allowed phone calls or visits.

“Recommendation 146 of the Royal Commission into the (Aboriginal) Deaths in Custody clearly states police must facilitate and encourage that,” he said.

“I understand those people are in there for a reason but that visitation and the phone call settles them.”