Schoolchildren in the public gallery giggled as the fireworks flew, with Steven Miles accused of being “on the booze” instead of meeting flood victims.
Schoolchildren in the public gallery giggled as the fireworks flew, with Steven Miles accused of being “on the booze” instead of meeting flood victims.
By William Davis
February 18, 2025 — 7.59pm
Questions on the government’s signature youth crime laws dominated an at-times-fiery return to Queensland parliament, as senior ministers wrote off criticism as part of a “left, woke agenda” and hit back with quotes from climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The Labor opposition repeatedly tried to pin down the LNP on why offences including rape and manslaughter were left off its “adult crime, adult time” bill, suggesting the policy may have been rushed through.
“When the premier told Channel Nine in October he had already drafted his crime laws, did his personally drafted laws include attempted murder and rape, and if so, when did the attorney-general remove those offences?” Opposition Leader Steven Miles asked.
The premier and his ministers largely sidestepped the question, instead criticising the former government’s response to crime rates, and saying they remained committed to making the state safer.
“I am always happy … to talk about the 10 years of failures of those opposite,” Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said.
“Before answering the leader of the opposition’s question, we know that he is just not up to it – just not up to the job – because he was sitting on the benches on this side of the House when crime went through the roof.
“It is the left, woke agenda of those opposite, who sit back and now criticise our laws.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie, meanwhile, invoked “the great philosopher and climate change warrior” Greta Thunberg.
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“How dare you? How dare those opposite come in here and have a go at us about our tough-on-crime laws? How dare they?” he said.
“They came into this House kicking and screaming and refusing to support our Making Queensland Safer laws.
“They are ideologically opposed to them.
“They did not want any charge included in the Making Queensland Safer laws, but now they want every charge in the Criminal Code included.”
The fireworks flew as schoolchildren on excursions were rotated through the public gallery, many giggling at the intensity of the proceedings.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie accused Miles of politicising recent flooding in the state’s north, tabling photos purporting to show the former premier drinking red wine in the Qantas lounge at Townsville Airport while he claimed online to be with flood victims.
“I have to say, a person who politicises a disaster at the start of a flood is no leader,” Bleijie said.
“What was worse and more disgraceful was that he was tweeting that afternoon, after flying in, to pretend he was at this bridge and meeting all the workers.
“What a disgraceful opposition leader, not up to the job – pretending he was with flood victims while he was on the booze in the Qantas lounge, when flood victims were losing their homes. What a disgrace.”
Miles had been in Townsville meeting with flood victims for two days prior. His former deputy premier hit back at the attack.
“I have seen the LNP conduct themselves in one of the most disgraceful fashions that any government in this state has ever conducted themselves,” Cameron Dick said.
“Let me say this: it is not unlawful, it is not improper, it is not wrong for people to drink in licensed premises in Queensland, but of course, the LNP sought to make an issue of that this morning.”
Treasurer David Janetzki revealed the recent natural disaster was predicted to have a 0.1 per cent impact on Australia’s GDP.
“While it is too soon to determine the overall economic loss from the North Queensland floods, early information suggests it will be less than recent major weather events, including Cyclone Jasper,” he said.
“Queensland is built on resilience and community spirit. Time and again, we see Queenslanders standing together in trying times, and recent weeks have been no different.”
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