Plan to name bridge after Allison Baden-Clay dumped

UPDATE: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has explained why the plan to name a bridge after Allison Baden-Clay has been scrapped.

Supplied Editorial Copy image of Allison Baden-Clay

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to meet with the family of Allison Baden-Clay to find an alternative memorial to her after the state decided against naming an Ipswich bridge after her.

“I think everyone wants to see some type of appropriate memorial or symbol for Allison,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“And I’m more than happy to sit down with her family about what they think would be appropriate.

“My understanding is, in relation to this particular issue about the bridge, there was community consultation and it was the community that was not in favour of that.

“I think we can look at some other options.”

But the Premier refused to be drawn on whether the State would launch an appeal in the wake of the shock verdict.

“The Acting Attorney-General is seeking legal advice,” she said.

“I spoke to the Acting Attorney-General, Cameron Dick, this morning on the phone and he assured me that the department is working extremely hard to get that advice as soon as possible.

“But this is a very serious issue and once we get that advice we’ll be making a more informed comment.”

RELATIVES REACT: He’s lied every step of the way

OPINION: Justice rests in final sentence

COMMENT: Outrage should be a tool for change

Ms Palaszczuk said she was concerned any remarks she made could harm the prospects of a successful appeal.

“I’m not going to say anything more about the case because anything I say can actually prejudice an appeal,” she said.

The Premier insisted the state’s judges understood community expectations.

“Judges live in our community, they understand what the community thinks and says,” she said.

“So let them do their job. Let’s wait until we get the advice and we’ll give you an update as soon as we receive that advice.”

Minister Mark Bailey.

Allison Baden-Clay.

OVERNIGHT: Plans to name bridge after Allison scrapped

PLANS to name a yellow bridge after Allison Baden-Clay as a symbol of the fight against domestic violence have been dumped on the day her killer’s conviction was downgraded.

As the Court of Appeal delivered its decision to set aside Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction — leaving her family in deep shock — Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey advised he no longer wanted to go ahead with the plan to name the bridge after Allison.

The naming of the Riverview pedestrian bridge was the idea of former police minister Jo-Ann Miller, who announced it at a domestic violence event attended by Allison’s friends and family and former Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

At the time, Ms Miller said she suggested it after discussing the idea of a permanent memorial to Allison with her parents.

“It leads into Redbank and Allison and her family lived in Redbank,” she said.

“Allison’s dad, in fact, was a fireman out of Redbank fire station.

“So I think that it would be a perfect memorial for Allison because the bridge is already painted bright yellow and Allison’s favourite colour was yellow.

“I think that this is a fitting tribute to her.”

Mr Bailey seemed enthusiastic about the proposal following the announcement.

“I think there’s a lot of obvious community sentiment about this matter and also about Allison,” he said.

“Obviously we’ve got the usual protocols around the naming of bridges and what have you but we will take careful consideration. I’ll be doing that tomorrow.”

But on Tuesday a letter arrived at Ms Miller’s office advising her that the proposal no longer had the support of the Minister for Main Roads, or his department, because of “divided opinion”.

“Community views have been gauged in accordance with the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ bridge naming policy,” the letter said.

“Preliminary consultation, including public reaction when the proposal to name the bridge was announced, indicates the proposal is quite contentious and opinion divided.

“In the experience of my department, naming a public asset after a person often generates conflicting views which can create division within the community, and this unfortunately became apparent during the preliminary consultation.”

The letter concluded by saying Mr Bailey looked forward to working with Ms Miller “in other ways to highlight the issue of domestic violence within the community”.

Allison’s family had not been told about the change in plans when contacted yesterday. At the time, they’d described the naming of the bridge as a “lovely idea”.

Ms Miller yesterday declined to comment but said she would continue to lobby for the naming to go ahead.

A spokesman for Mr Bailey said he had asked the director-general of TMR to contact the family to explain the decision “and offer any further information they require”