Activist and Palm Island man Lex Wotton says he is ‘truly outraged’ that the Queensland Police Service have launched an appeal against a Federal Court ruling that found police had acted in a racist manner following a death in custody in 2004.

Federal Court Justice Debbie Mortimer awarded $220,000 in damages to Mr Wotton and two family members in December after finding police were unlawfully discriminatory in their response to the death of a man and subsequent unrest on Palm Island.

QLD Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath confirmed last week she had instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions to lodge the appeal.

Speaking to NITV, Mr Wotton says he is confident the initial ruling will stand.