 In 2007 Brisbane-based band Powderfinger wrote a song "Black Tears" which mentioned the Palm Island death in custody by the words "An island watch-house bed, a black man's lying dead".The song was to be released as part of their 2007 album "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence".Fearing that the lyrics of the song might prejudice the case against their client, Chris Hurley's legal team referred the song to Queensland's Attorney-General, Kerry Shine, in an attempt to get the song banned or the lyrics changed.