Mr Beattie said the men accused of rioting on Palm Island in the wake of a death in custody should not be subject to community-based punishment but face Queensland's court system.
A traditional court headed by Aboriginal elders exists on the island which is capable of dealing out traditional forms of punishment to offenders referred by the mainstream court system.
But Mr Beattie said in this case the matter should go through the courts.
"They have to go through the courts," Mr Beattie said today.
His comments followed calls by Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner for Queensland police to drop the charges.
Mr Yanner, a relative of 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee who died in police custody on November 19 on the island, said it would be an act of goodwill for the grieving family.
"They are yet to make any gesture towards the families of the deceased - a man we believe to be murdered by the police," Mr Yanner told ABC radio.
"A couple of blokes burn a police station, they're immediately caught and charged by the largest armed contingent since we sent soldiers over to Iraq. It's ridiculous."
A post-mortem examination which revealed Mr Doomadgee had broken ribs and a ruptured liver sparked the riot by around 300 islanders on Friday.
His family have since asked for an independent autopsy to be conducted by a senior pathologist from Victoria's Institute of Medicine.
The autopsy is likely to delay his funeral which was being planned for Friday.
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police would keep a low profile at the funeral if given assurances of "goodwill and leadership" from community leaders.
However, Mr Atkinson warned the accused rioters, who will apply for bail next Monday, to stay away from the island.
"If anyone asked me, my advice would have to be for them not to attend," Mr Atkinson said today.
Defence lawyer Kevin Rose said the accused men were arrested despite merely being bystanders at the riot.
The men, aged between 14 and 54, were remanded in custody after defence lawyers sought an adjournment to prepare a bail application.
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