Bleijie Must Decide If He Is A-G Or Judge Judy

Media Release.

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie is almost daily providing good reasons he should not continue as the state’s chief law officer.

 

“The Attorney-General who cannot manage to keep two teenagers in a boot camp has a string of bungles to his name and now wants to introduce laws that overturn the basic doctrine of the separation of powers,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

 

“What he is proposing is worse than some of the decisions of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government."

 

“Mr Bleijie’ s actions raise legitimate concerns about his ability to ensure any new laws he introduces will stand up in court if challenged, including in the High Court of Australia."

 

“Mr Bleijie’ s latest plan to set himself up as judge and jury on dangerous sex offenders and bypass the judiciary is simply unacceptable."

 

“Mr Bleijie has to decide if he wants to be Attorney-General or Judge Judy."

 

“I want to know if he has consulted with the judiciary including the Queensland Chief Justice, the Queensland Law Society, and the Bar Association on his plans.”

 

Ms Palaszczuk said provisions existed in both the Penalties and Sentences Act and the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act giving judges the power to keep the worst sex offenders off the streets.

 

“The Opposition would support any carefully considered, well-scrutinised amendments to these or other legislation if it had the effect of keeping behind bars those who do not deserve to live in our community because of the ongoing risk they pose to others.

 

“But any changes should not destroy the separation of powers by involving a member of the executive government in a decision that should rightly be left with the independent judiciary."

 

“Yet again, like organised crime organisations, there is a real need to come up with a solution but it has to be one that will survive challenge in the courts.”

 

Ms Palaszczuk said she had previously expressed concerns that Mr Bleijie was the wrong person to deliver new laws tackling organised crime gangs and other sensitive issues.

 

“That was proved in the early hours of Wednesday morning,” she said.

 

“It is a deeply worrying sign that Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie was forced to make a significant amendment to his own new laws targeting criminal gangs even before they had been voted on in State Parliament."

 

“He made his amendment after I pointed out the possibility lawyers carrying out their professional duties could be caught up in the laws and labelled as ‘participants’ in an outlawed organisation."

 

“This would not have happened if the legislation had been subject to the proper level of scrutiny by being referred to the appropriate all-party parliamentary committee and all MPs including the Opposition had been given time to consider the Bills.”