Thursday 16 January 2014

NEWMAN GIVES COMFORT TO CRIME GANGS

Media Release

Premier Campbell Newman’s statements this week that he would like to see his bungled anti-crime gang laws disappear from the statute books in three years is an open invitation to crime gangs to lay low until 2016, says Shadow Police Minister, Bill Byrne.
“These comments echo those made in the lead-up to the 2012 state election by the current bungling Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie. At that time Mr Bleijie was loudly claiming he would consider scrapping Labor’s Criminal Organisation Act once the LNP won office.
“The inference from Mr Bleijie’s comments then and those of the Premier this week is that the laws will go and gangs will be free to resume their lucrative criminal activities.
“These statements would be music to ears of crime gangs. It is ridiculous to send this signal to those who are involved in organised crime in Queensland,” said Mr Byrne
“Is the Premier now predicting that organised crime will be expunged from Queensland in three years?  Is he saying that ecstacy and ice will be unavailable on Queensland streets? This is what happens when a government is motivated by purely populist slogans.
“This week we have heard the Premier re-iterate that he doesn’t like the laws and he’s declared his intention to get rid of them presumably because he has finally realised they are making Queensland a national and international laughing stock and ruining the state’s reputation.
“It is a clear indication he realises the laws are riddled with inconsistencies, were rushed through, were not subject to proper consultation, were poorly drafted, amateurish and ham fisted.
“The solution is to install a new Attorney-General and have the laws scrutinised by the parliamentary committee and have them subject to the proper consultation that the Attorney-General arrogantly refused to have when he pushed them through State Parliament.
“They should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by a new and competent Attorney-General who is prepared to seek and act upon expert advice. They should be replaced by workable legislation properly scrutinised through the parliamentary committee process before they do any further harm to innocent people.
“The problems posed by criminal gangs in Queensland should not be under-estimated, but they are problems that must be addressed in a mature manner which maintains essential rights and protections for innocent citizens, and which is capable of surviving legal challenge.

“In seeking to distance himself from the fallout caused by the incompetence of his bungling Attorney-General, the Premier is doing nothing to repair the damage. He needs to dismiss Jarrod Bleijie rather than offer the prospect to gangs that they will soon be free to resume their illicit activities,” Mr Byrne said.

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