‘Antiquated ideologies’: Miles rails against controversial LNP bill
Opposition Leader Steven Miles has delivered the strongest indication yet that Labor may again symbolically oppose a key government bill.
MPs are again debating the LNP’s controversial bill containing the latest iteration of its “adult crime, adult time” laws, an end to three-strike drug diversion and new police powers to stop “anti-social behaviour”.
The youth crime sentencing elements have been questioned by legal and community sector stakeholders, while the state’s peak health body has called the unwinding of the diversion program “dangerous and contrary to evidence”.
Others have raised concerns the new designated business and community precinct powers and banning notices given to police will be used to criminalise homelessness.
Miles has seized on this, saying the bill when looked at in its entirety was a “debate about health and health-based interventions”.
“Today, we are being asked to decide what kind of Queensland we want to be, a Queensland that invests in health care for our citizens, or a Queensland that cuts health services,” Miles said.
“To decide if we will be a Queensland that supports people through addiction and mental health challenges, or a Queensland that punishes them for it. One that listens to doctors, nurses and health experts, or one that ignores advice in favour of antiquated ideologies.
“We believe in laws that will work, that are evidence-based and grounded in expert advice. Laws that make communities safe – and this bill, in its current form, fails that test.”
Labor’s youth justice spokesperson Di Farmer has proposed amendments which would split the bill into two, the youth sentencing and police powers element, and the drug diversion element, to be reconsidered by parliamentary committees.
Such a motion, however, is unlikely to be supported by the government.
That’s a wrap for today
That’s where we’ll leave our blog coverage of Queensland parliament for the day.
Here’s some of the key takeaways:
- Labor grilled Sports Minister Tim Mander over his electoral enrolment details following his separation from his wife, while reportedly living in parliamentary accommodation. Mander insists he has at all times followed his obligations under state laws.
- The LNP has continued spruiking its push for a renewed oil industry in the state, accusing the Albanese government of inaction as both major parties look to the looming Stafford byelection – with the LNP also attacking Labor’s candidate Luke Richmond for his role in the party organisation and with former health ministers.
- Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber has kicked off debate on the LNP’s controversial bill containing the latest iteration of its “adult crime, adult time” laws, an end to three-strike drug diversion and new police powers to stop “anti-social behaviour”, set to pass by early Thursday afternoon. Opposition Leader Steven Miles, in an early contribution, said the bill “ignores advice in favour of antiquated ideologies”.
We’ll be back blogging from about 2pm tomorrow with Wednesday’s later start to parliament.
‘Antiquated ideologies’: Miles rails against controversial LNP bill
Opposition Leader Steven Miles has delivered the strongest indication yet that Labor may again symbolically oppose a key government bill.
MPs are again debating the LNP’s controversial bill containing the latest iteration of its “adult crime, adult time” laws, an end to three-strike drug diversion and new police powers to stop “anti-social behaviour”.
The youth crime sentencing elements have been questioned by legal and community sector stakeholders, while the state’s peak health body has called the unwinding of the diversion program “dangerous and contrary to evidence”.
Others have raised concerns the new designated business and community precinct powers and banning notices given to police will be used to criminalise homelessness.
Minister launches debate of controversial laws to pass this week
Parliament has moved on to government business, after a motion from Leader of the House Christian Rowan to change parliamentary rules around how sitting week schedules are set.
Rowan said the amendments to standing orders would be in contrast to a previous process of a business committee set up under Labor, which was only a “rubber stamp for its own agenda”.
The changes, introduced without consulting the opposition, instead allow Rowan alone in his role to shape the timing of government business in the parliament.
Labor members accused Rowan and the LNP of hypocrisy, with Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick saying the motion was about the government wanting control.
First on the government’s agenda this week: a controversial bill containing the latest iteration of its “adult crime, adult time” laws, an end to three-strike drug diversion and new police powers to stop “anti-social behaviour”.
Labor sets sights on sports minister, LNP on oil, in question time attacks
The Labor opposition has used question time to grill Sports Minister Tim Mander over his electoral enrolment details in the wake of his separation from his wife, while reportedly living in parliamentary accommodation.
Most questions from Labor members went to various ministers – including Premier David Crisafulli and Mander himself – about whether laws had been adhered or over investigations sought by state and federal electoral commissions.
Crisafulli and Mander repeatedly pushed back with attacks of their own. The premier highlighted his day-one sacking of “self-confessed electoral rorter” Mike Kaiser from his role leading the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Later, Crisafulli also said he and the LNP, while in opposition, never “lowered” themselves to ask such questions about the former relationship between then Labor ministers Mark Bailey and Meaghan Scanlon.
Fossil fuel talk, and personal matters, dominate parliament opening
The opening portion of parliament this morning has seen attention from the state government on its calls for the federal government to take action around fuel prices.
Premier David Crisafulli has reiterated his push for a dashboard showing fuel stocks and supply nationally, an exemption under federal law (which the feds say don’t exist) for oil exploration, and touting talks for a new oil refinery.
One by one, most other ministers also spoke around such matters in relation to their portfolios, too.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie announced the Coordinator General had declared the $1.24 billion Corvus metallurgical coal project near Emerald a co-ordinated project.
In play this week
With Queensland MPs back in parliament from today for their latest three-day sitting, youth justice and cost-of-living pressures are likely to be front and centre.
The first is owing to the Crisafulli government’s latest iteration of its “adult crime, adult time” laws being rubber-stamped by a committee last week and due for debate.
But the government has loaded the bill up with more: scrapping the state’s three-strike drug diversion program and giving police new powers to stop “anti-social behaviour”.
Expert groups have raised concerns about all three elements of the laws – as has the Labor opposition.
Welcome back to George Street
Good morning and welcome back to our Queensland parliament blog.
You can catch up on last week’s proceedings here.
We’ll be updating you with everything you need to know from George Street throughout the day.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
