Media Release
14 March 2014
Shadow Police Minister, Bill Byrne, has welcomed federal LNP MP
for Dawson George Christensen’s support for Labor’s plan to “repeal and
replace” the Newman Government’s VLAD laws.
“If the Premier really is listening to Queenslanders as he promised, surely he will listen to one of his own federal MPs who shares our view that the LNP’s rushed laws are not working,” Mr Byrne said.
“Coming down hard on criminal organisations should be a bipartisan position, but there’s no doubt that the LNP’s laws are not working and must be repealed and replaced as Labor and now Mr Christensen suggest."
“I acknowledge Mr Christensen’s willingness to stand up to his arrogant state colleagues, Premier Campbell Newman and the bungling Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, on behalf of his constituents."
“He has called on his LNP colleagues to repeal and replace these laws because they have ‘gone too far’.
“Mr Christensen clearly agrees with Labor that we need to clamp down on criminal elements, but leave innocent Queenslanders alone."
“His comments can only be seen as a major vote of no confidence in the Premier and the Attorney-General from one of their own.”
Mr Byrne said Labor wanted the laws to be reviewed immediately by State Parliament’s committee system, and failing that, Labor in government would repeal and replace them.
“The LNP’s laws are not working because Mr Newman and Mr Bleijie refused to listen and refused to have their laws scrutinised by the all-party parliamentary committee system."
“Through their arrogance they missed the chance to deliver workable laws and their laws are now to be challenged in the High Court."
“We need workable laws and we need them as soon as possible."
“Labor is now doing what the LNP didn’t — we are listening to stakeholders and the wider community to achieve workable laws."
“It is possible to get the balance right and to achieve workable laws that attack criminal gangs."
“The Newman Government is simply not interested in doing that because it failed to listen to experts when the laws were drafted and is failing to listen now,” he said.
“If the Premier really is listening to Queenslanders as he promised, surely he will listen to one of his own federal MPs who shares our view that the LNP’s rushed laws are not working,” Mr Byrne said.
“Coming down hard on criminal organisations should be a bipartisan position, but there’s no doubt that the LNP’s laws are not working and must be repealed and replaced as Labor and now Mr Christensen suggest."
“I acknowledge Mr Christensen’s willingness to stand up to his arrogant state colleagues, Premier Campbell Newman and the bungling Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, on behalf of his constituents."
“He has called on his LNP colleagues to repeal and replace these laws because they have ‘gone too far’.
“Mr Christensen clearly agrees with Labor that we need to clamp down on criminal elements, but leave innocent Queenslanders alone."
“His comments can only be seen as a major vote of no confidence in the Premier and the Attorney-General from one of their own.”
Mr Byrne said Labor wanted the laws to be reviewed immediately by State Parliament’s committee system, and failing that, Labor in government would repeal and replace them.
“The LNP’s laws are not working because Mr Newman and Mr Bleijie refused to listen and refused to have their laws scrutinised by the all-party parliamentary committee system."
“Through their arrogance they missed the chance to deliver workable laws and their laws are now to be challenged in the High Court."
“We need workable laws and we need them as soon as possible."
“Labor is now doing what the LNP didn’t — we are listening to stakeholders and the wider community to achieve workable laws."
“It is possible to get the balance right and to achieve workable laws that attack criminal gangs."
“The Newman Government is simply not interested in doing that because it failed to listen to experts when the laws were drafted and is failing to listen now,” he said.
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