Protesters crash LNP launch as ‘final plank’ of key promise announced

Passionate protests were brushed off by party faithful at Sunday’s LNP campaign launch, as David Crisafulli announced the “final plank” of his key youth crime election commitment.

More than 40 protesters, many in Australian Workers’ Union shirts, gathered outside the Ipswich Community Centre to protest over ambiguity from some opposition MPs about their intention to re-criminalise abortion.

Chanting “her body, her choice” as journalists were bussed in, one protester was dressed as former LNP premier Campbell Newman with a giant pair of scissors, another as a dinosaur, and four wore uniforms from The Handmaid’s Tale.

Four people dressed as women from The Handmaid’s Tale were among the 40-odd protesters outside the LNP’s campaign launch.Credit: William Davis

“Even our friends out the front know that Queensland needs a fresh start,” Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said to a huge cheer from about 150 supporters as the campaign launch kicked off inside.

“I’ve got to say, they went a little quiet earlier, so I went and gave them a wave.”

LNP leader David Crisafulli again focused his speech on youth crime, appearing emotional at one point after being welcomed by the family of murdered Brisbane woman Vyleen White.

An emotional David Crisafulli was welcomed by the family of crime victim Vyleen White. Credit: William Davis.

He announced a new “detention with purpose” plan, aiming to reduce repeat offences and improve rehabilitation for young criminals in detention.

“It’s the crime crisis where I want to focus today. We owe this to victims of crime in this state,” Crisafulli said.

“It’s a topic this government hasn’t wanted to speak about; a crisis created by their decision to weaken the youth justice laws and boast about it.

“Today I can announce ‘detention with purpose’. It’s time to shift the focus of youth detention from young criminals dictating the rules, to a system that focuses on discipline, respect and rehabilitation.

The party faithful attend the LNP’s official campaign launch in Ipswich on Sunday.Credit: William Davis

“If the state is taking over responsibility for their care, we must make sure they become better people, not better criminals.”

Under the policy, education for young people in custody would be compulsory, minimum isolation periods would be enforced for detainees who assault staff, privileges such as access to television would be taken away to punish bad behaviour, and children leaving incarceration would be given additional support for 12 months.

In response, Premier Steven Miles said education was already mandatory in detention facilities, as he backed the effectiveness of Labor’s efforts to reduce crime and rehabilitate offenders.

“We take the advice of the police, and that has informed a community safety plan that is working,” Miles said from a community health centre in Strathpine on Sunday morning.

“What this bloke’s very good at doing is taking a very complicated problem and pretending to have a simple solution.

“Education is already mandatory in our detention facilities, and what we’ve been doing over time is increasing access to schooling and increasing access to healthcare services, because so many of the young people entering our detention system are suffering from mental health, alcohol and drug-abuse issues.

“We are doing what we know works when it comes to preventing reoffending. Nothing in the [LNP’s] plan that I’ve seen so far will prevent a single crime.”

Health, housing and the cost of living rounded out the LNP’s talking points, with the Labor government blamed for failures around each. The decision to hold the official launch in Ipswich, previously a Labor stronghold, was not lost on political observers.

“Elections are about choices,” Crisafulli said. “Queenslanders can vote for a fresh LNP team promising to deal with bullies and break-and-enters, or a chaotic Labor Party promising to borrow for bolognaise.

“That’s the choice at this election.”

Vyleen White’s daughter, Cindy Micallef, endorsed Crisafulli.

“I’m asking for my fellow Queenslanders to vote for change … I believe this state needs David Crisafulli to be the next premier of Queensland,” she said.

“Like so many Queenslanders, I’ve seen the impact of Labor’s weak laws.

“I know nothing will change unless we, the people of Queensland, change the government.”

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