Editorial: New threat shows how Crisafulli can be exposed

Premier David Crisafulli’s carefully plotted path down the political middle of the road is at risk of being knocked off-course, writes the editor.

Premier David Crisafulli this week. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

Premier David Crisafulli clearly knows that elections in Australia are traditionally won from the centre – at least judging by his actions in both opposition, and now just over 150 days into government.

He won power last October by sticking rigorously to a small-target campaign and avoiding any hint of ideological zealotry, despite Labor’s desperate attempts to incorrectly paint him as anti-choice in relation to reproductive rights.

As premier, he has so far run miles from his LNP predecessor Campbell Newman’s muscular and belligerent approach to the public sector by doing the opposite and pledging no retrenchments – and showing a conciliatory approach to current wage negotiations.

He has also actively avoided any hint of culture wars. One of his first actions as premier was to push through legislation gagging further debate on the state’s abortion laws – a move that would have upset those conservative Christians in his ranks, but which acted as both a line in the sand response to those Labor claims and to forestall a potentially divisive debate within his own party and the broader community.

But this carefully plotted path down the middle of the road is at risk of being knocked off-course, with Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall’s recent accusation that the Crisafulli government has caved in to the religious Right by postponing new anti-discrimination laws, passed by the previous Labor government.

He says Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has caved to pressure from conservative Christian groups in her decision to indefinitely delay new anti-discrimination laws – and that “the interests of a group of religious advocates have been very persuasive with the government”.

The government denies the claim – and says the delay in the Respect at Work law reforms, which were due to come into effect on July 1, is to address various issues raised by the Justice Department. Specifically it says concerns have been raised over an aspect of the reforms which would ban organisations from checking on “irrelevant” parts of their criminal record – such as if charges against them had been withdrawn or stuck out. In other words, they claim the delay has nothing to do with religion.

More broadly, Mr McDougall also got stuck into the government for failing to consult with him earlier. He says he did not know about the delay until hours before it was publicly announced and that in any event, the concerns raised by the Justice Department could have been easily resolved with some special provisions added to the Act.

Now there is nothing wrong with a new government deciding to revisit the legislative decisions of the previous administration. There is also absolutely nothing wrong, in a democracy, for interested parties to re-prosecute their arguments if they feel they did not get a fair hearing from the other mob.

But in a system like ours where voting is compulsory it is crucial – politically – that the government be absolutely honest and clear in its motives, and to not only make its decisions based on the common good rather than simply to assuage this or that minority group – but also to be seen to be doing so. To always be upfront, in other words.

This little spat is understandable, considering the Human Rights Commission and its supporting legislation are creatures of the previous Labor government. But the episode should serve as a timely warning for Premier Crisafulli.

HOPING FOR A CIVIL ELECTION

Most Australian voters will be approaching this federal election campaign hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

Hoping for the best; that all candidates – and not just Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the alternative Peter Dutton – will stick to the issues, treat each other civilly and with respect, and will endeavour to answer the media and the public’s questions directly and honestly without the prevarication and evasiveness that was a feature of last year’s state election campaign.

Expecting the worst; because too often our election campaigns degenerate into childish name-calling, one-upmanship and cheap stunts that only excite those in the Canberra bubble.

Despite the Prime Minister’s promise after he was elected in 2022 to do politics in a different, less divisive way, it seems there is more animosity between our two major political tribes than ever before.

Tensions in the community have been inflamed over the past three years, from the divisive Voice referendum, to the anti-Semitism and Islamophobia stirred up by the war in Gaza, as well as the day-to-day struggle, for many, to put food on the table and pay the rent or mortgage in a cost-of-living crisis.

We don’t want to go down the US path where a huge ideological and social gulf divides the Left and Right. We are Australians. And our politicians need to remember that over the next month.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here