Media Release.
Ipswich
West MP Sean Choat’s offensive and outrageous claim that he is happy to
be known as a “Stalinist” should strike fear into the heart of every
south-east Queensland resident who believed
a vote for him was a vote for democratic government
Bundamba
MP Jo-Ann Miller said Mr Choat’s odious statement today was possibly
the most repulsive made so far on the Newman government’s new laws in
regard to outlaw gangs but typified the attitude
of a Premier and Attorney-General who were determined to transport
Queensland back three decades.
“Sean
Choat has captured the philosophy of this government in one fell swoop –
a government that believes it can dictate how the court sentences
criminals, a government that has little concept
of how the legal system works, led by a Premier who has lost the plot,” Mrs Miller said.
“This
MP in particular has no idea what he is talking about. He is merely
parroting lines prepared for him by the Premier who also has no clue
about the separation of powers and the need for
an independent judicial system."
“Ordinary,
decent people – people with a conscience – are right to be offended
that Mr Choat wants to be seen as a Stalinist and they should be
horrified that he describes the separation of
powers between government and the judiciary as “claptrap”.
“Mr
Choat and the Premier may have forgotten or never known the lessons
from the Fitzgerald Inquiry that found Liberal and National party
governments had presided over rampant corruption."
“They
should take a history lesson and learn how badly corruption got out of
control courtesy of a Premier and government who also had no knowledge
of the separation of power. It’s critical
that the separation of powers is maintained. It’s critical that the
judiciary maintains its independence."
“It
is not the Premier’s place, it is not the Attorney-General’s place and
it is certainly not Mr Choat’s place to dictate to the courts how they
should be sentencing people convicted of criminal
offences.
“His draconian attitude is helping in no uncertain terms to take Queensland back to the dark Joh era of 25 years ago."
“As
he continues to toe the government’s line – blissfully ignorant of the
past – I suggest he read up on history to learn what became of the
Bjelke-Petersen government and the consequences
of that government."
“I’m
sure Ipswich residents did not realise they were voting at the last
election for a person who calls himself a Stalinist – but they will now
be aware of his disgraceful attitude the next
time they come to vote.”
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