AN Aboriginal elder wants Facebook and social networking sites banned at Doomadgee to stop fuelling tensions between warring families.

Conflict between four families within the indigenous community, about 100km west of Burketown, was thought to have escalated through the misuse of social networking sites in recent years.

The war of words has since sparked bullying, threats and violence between the families.

Doomadgee traditional land-owner and Gangalidda elder Barry Walden called for calm and urged the Mayor, Fredrick O’Keefe, and the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council to support the ban.

He said the community would be better off without Facebook and the online forum site, Diva’s Chat Room.

Diva’s Chat Room users must have a Telstra NextG account and registration to access the chat platform.

"We’re screaming out for help here," Mr Walden said.

"The problem is Facebook and Twitter has been abused. There’s a problem with how children and people use it.

"It has caused nothing but problems in relation to family feuds.

"I’m asking for anyone to help us and to get the service taken out of the community."

Tensions between the O’Keefe, Walden, Johnny and Douglas families at Doomadgee erupted just before Christmas, after offensive comments were posted online.

This week, the children of some of the feuding families were reported to have also clashed in the street.

Mt Isa police Insp Adam Muir said officers were working to resolve the issues.

He did not believe social networking sites caused the problems.

"Perhaps Facebook is being used to take out long-term issues of frustrations," he said.

"At the end of the day, some of the residents need to take a little bit of responsibility, abide by all the laws and respect the values of others."

Insp Muir said family issues had led to people being taken to hospital with injuries from serious assaults.

The latest data into hospital admissions for assault-related injuries showed 17.1 per 1000 people were hospitalised at Doomadgee, compared with the state average of 1.1 per 1000.

Cr O’Keefe was not available for comment yesterday.

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