Premier wants tough new protester laws banning dangerous devices in place within weeks
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she wants her Government’s dangerous device ban laws to be in place before the end of the month.
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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says she wants her Government’s dangerous device ban laws to be in place before the end of the month.
It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed overnight that the Government would fast-track the passage of the laws, which are aimed at sending climate change protesters to jail if they use the devices.
Ms Palaszczuk today said she was not worried if the move was a bad look for the Government, insisting that committee hearings for critics to have their say on the laws would simply be brought forward.
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“The use of these dangerous devices is not acceptable,” she said.
“I would like the hearings on these dangerous devices to happen as soon as possible.
“I would like these laws debated in the second week of the October sitting of Parliament.
“I want these laws in place by the end of this month. I think that’s fair and I think that’s reasonable.”
Under the new laws, protesters will be jailed for up to two years if they bring dangerous devices such as drums with concrete and locks, which are used on bridges and roads.
It will also give police a “disruption power” to search and seize devices before the are used.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said it would be a matter for the courts to decide if someone would be jailed for their first dangerous device offence.
Ms Palaszczuk said she didn’t think protesters were endearing themselves to Queenslanders with the tactics they were using.
“It’s just getting beyond a joke now,” she said.
“Some of the protesters are talking about climate change.
“My Government is taking clear action on climate change.”
Greens MP Michael Berkman said the move to fast-track the laws was a “disgusting betrayal of our democracy”.
“The Police Minister has still presented no evidence on his bogus claims that these devices are booby trapped or designed to put first responders’ safety at risk,” he said.
“And now we’re not even going to have the opportunity to scrutinise those claims through the committee process it seems.”
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