Qld sends help to funeral rampage town

Extra government officers will be sent to a Cape York community after a deadly rampage at a funeral left one dead and more than 20 injured.

Extra government officers are being sent to the Cape York community of Kowanyama to help residents cope with a deadly car rampage at a funeral.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the community will need help to deal with the aftermath of Friday's attack which has seen a local man charged with one count of murder.

Police expect to lay additional charges against Garry Paul Hudson, 55, who faced a Cairns court on Saturday, accused of ramming a council-owned vehicle into a house packed with mourners gathered to honour his partner after she died from cancer.

One mourner - a 48-year-old woman - died when the house was rammed and up to 25 other people were injured, with nine of the victims still in hospital.

One of them is in a serious condition.

Police have described the aftermath as similar to an accident in Ravenshoe in June 2015, when two people died and 19 were injured when an out-of-control ute ran into the back of a cafe in the north Queensland town, sparking a huge gas explosion.

The premier says six government officers are being sent to the town to help the community deal with the tragedy, which involved many people from the same family group.

"The community is going through a really, really tough time at the moment," she told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.

"I have reassured the mayor that if he needs any further help, any further assistance with counselling or anything else, to let the Treasurer know, to let me know."

Treasurer Curtis Pitt, who is also the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, is due to pay a brief visit to the town on Monday.

And extra police have already been sent in but the town has remained peaceful, with the service for Hudson's partner resuming on Monday.

The case against Hudson is due to return to court next month.


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Source: AAP



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