Cairns MP Michael Healy hits back at ‘disgusting’ signs amid new anti-crime protest
A Cairns anti-crime lobby is keeping pressure on the state government to take action on youth crime as the number of cars stolen races toward a dire milestone. Read what Cairns MP Michael Healy had to say.
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A CAIRNS anti-crime lobby is keeping pressure on the state government to take action on youth crime as a Cairns stolen car figure races toward quadruple digits.
At the Cairns Courthouse complex on Friday homemade signs bearing slogans such as “enough is enough, fix the crime” and “no bail for repeat offenders” were hammered into a grassy area outside the building before security staff requested the signs be erected on the Sheridan Street footpath.
The latest protest action follows derogatory printed signs stuck to light poles in the city, rallies outside Cairns MP Michael Healy’s office, email campaigns, petitions and a plan for a roadside billboard declaring Cairns as the “crime capital of the north”.
Sign creators Humphrey Hollins and Perri Conti relayed a simple message.
“Things must change. The crime must cease. It’s out of control. We’ve had cars torched, we’ve had a woman raped, all in a week,” Mr Hollins said.
As of Thursday 990 cars had been stolen in the Cairns area in the 270 days since January 1 this year.
The one thousand stolen car milestone is expected to be surpassed this weekend.
Cairns MP Michael Healy slammed offensive posters lashing Far North Labor MPs that cropped up this week, saying personal attacks were not productive.
“I know I need to get better outcomes (but) those sorts of personal attacks, I pay no attention to them,” he said.
“I have had people ringing me about this offensive signage and they are disgusted by them.
“I get the frustration and the anger and I am working with senior government officials to get better outcomes, but personal attacks don’t help.
“At the end of the day, my job is to advocate for my community, I continue to do that but it takes time to implement changes and strategies and laws.”
Ms Conti insists messages to elected members were not personal and the only way to drive law reform.
“Michael (Healy) is listening but they tie his hands, the change has to come from down south,” she said.
“We’ve had a gutful.”
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Originally published as Cairns MP Michael Healy hits back at ‘disgusting’ signs amid new anti-crime protest
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