GOVERNMENT BY “THOUGHT BUBBLE” MUST STOP

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government must commit to full consultation and scrutiny of changes to sex offender laws.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier also must stop talking about rescinding anti-crime gang laws and give priority to fixing the ones he has put in place.

“This is all about getting the laws right. We need workable laws that protect the community and that stand up in court,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The know-it-all Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie bungled his first attempt to change sex offender laws by refusing to subject them to scrutiny and public hearings by the State Parliamentary committee and refusing to talk to the legal fraternity."

“The end result was a bungled law that even the Newman Government refused to defend in the High Court."

“By doing so Jarrod Bleijie wasted almost two years. So-called ‘tough’ laws are just useless pieces of paper if they don’t stand up to legal challenge."

“The Labor Party in office amended its Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act five times between 2005 and 2010 to strengthen it when necessary."

“No law is set in concrete and if workable amendments are needed to any law they should be made but only after proper consultation and scrutiny."

”The problem with the Newman Government is they have a track record of bungling important laws from the start.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier and the Attorney-General needed to take a more considered approach to law changes rather than fall back on “thought bubbles”.

“For a start the Premier should stop talking about rescinding his anti-crime gang laws and instead send them back to the parliamentary committee for scrutiny and consultation so we can get them right,” she said.

“It is irresponsible for the Premier to tell criminal gangs ‘the coast is clear’ in three years’ time just to get him out of a political hole he has dug for himself. The fight against organised crime must be ongoing."  

“What he should be doing is sending them back through the parliamentary process for full scrutiny and consultation."

“We need workable anti-crime gang laws that target real criminals not innocent people,” Ms Palaszczuk said.