BUNDABERG, Australia—A Queensland court has heard how an Aboriginal corporation CEO sexually assaulted a woman in the same week he was granted an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the Indigenous community.
Kerry Nigel Blackman, 69, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by the Bundaberg District Court on Sept. 28 following a three-day trial the week prior.
A jury found Blackman guilty of four counts of sexual assault against a woman in her 20s, committed while he was aged between 60 and 66.
Blackman identifies as a Gurang and Gooreng Gooreng man and previously headed the Bundaberg-based Gidarjil Development Corporation, as well as playing a role in Indigenous land and sea management, cultural heritage, economic development and carbon farming.
In 2020, Blackman co-authored “Colonisation Through Black Eyes,” a historical account of his region from an Aboriginal perspective.
The court heard Blackman’s offending took place at a time the complainant was both an employee of Gidarjil and living in Gidarjil accommodation.
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On one occasion, Blackman had been conducting a house inspection at the woman’s home when he groped her genital area after instructing her to look up at dust on a ceiling fan.
The other three counts occurred in the workplace, where the woman was either groped or forcibly kissed by Blackman, including on one occasion where he had called her into his office before locking the door.
The woman read a victim impact statement to the court via videolink detailing the effects of the assaults on her life.
“It has affected me, not only my personal well-being, but my family, my professional identity, my reputation, and my sense of belonging within my own community that I once considered my whole life,” she said.
“I once worked within this community professionally, and I was dedicated to uplifting and empowering my community.”
The woman told the court she had also been “shunned” by her community in the wake of the assaults, an impact she described as “profoundly painful.”
“Having that reputation damage has let me feel that something I have worked hard to build has been taken away from me, the sense of rejection and isolation has also been deeply distressing,” she said.
“Being made to feel I no longer belong or was unworthy of a part of my own community, where I once worked, contributed, and prospered in, this has had a profound emotional impact on me.”
Crown Prosecutor Kate Thamm argued Blackman should be sentenced to a minimum period of 18 months’ jail, while barrister Jordan Ahlstrand argued Blackman should serve his sentence in the community or have any prison sentence limited to 12 months.
The court heard Blackman had been employed from the age of 16, had worked extensively in the Indigenous community and had been a dedicated husband—a father of four daughters and carer to two granddaughters.
Blackman also lost his role with Gidarjil following the offending and had his honorary doctorate revoked by CQUniversity.
In sentencing, Judge John Allen took into account Blackman’s “lack of remorse” for his offending, the need for just punishment and the need for deterrence.
“I do not consider that any effective sentence of less than 18 months imprisonment would adequately address those purposes of sentence, in particular, considerations of deterrence,” he said.
Judge Allen noted it was “ironic” Blackman had received his honorary doctorate during a week when he had carried out one of his offences.
Blackman, who pleaded not guilty on the first day of his trial, must serve at least 50 percent of his sentence.
Judge Allen did not make any orders for parole eligibility.
