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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