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Queensland MP calls for debate on death penalty for terrorists
A Queensland MP has renewed calls for Australian governments to consider the death penalty to deal with terrorists in the wake of the Paris attacks, which have claimed at least 130 lives.
Moggill MP Dr Christian Rowan sparked controversy last week when he used a debate about counter-terrorism laws in parliament to call for considering the reintroduction of the death penalty for "certain or specified terrorist acts".
Moggill MP Dr Christian Rowan.Credit: Michelle Smith
Dr Rowan stood by his speech on Monday, insisting Queensland and the rest of Australia needed to take "the strongest possible action ... in relation to extremist criminal ideology".
The former Australian Medical Association Queensland president made it clear that although he wasn't necessarily advocating for the death penalty himself, he was saying it needed to be considered for serious terrorism-related offences, including treason and "crimes against humanity".
Those responsible for the Paris attacks would likely be put to death under those circumstances, he said.
"These mass-casualty events that we've seen potentially could qualify," Dr Rowan told AAP.
Dr Rowan insisted the majority of feedback he'd received since his speech in parliament had been supportive.
He rejected civil libertarians' assertions that the death penalty would risk creating martyrs and prompting risk further radicalisation.
"If civil libertarians want to defend terrorist actions and actions that threaten free people around the world - these mass casualty events - let's see what basis and justification they want to put forward for that," he said.
Meanwhile, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Commissioner Ian Stewart informed her on Monday morning that police were not aware of any threats in Queensland.
But she said police would be adding extra resources at the annual Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast.
"We do take any event of significance very seriously in this state, but just to re-emphasise - there is no known threat in Queensland," she said.
Brisbane's French community will hold a vigil in the city's King George Square at 6pm on Monday, which will include a minute's silence for the victims of the Paris attacks.
AAP