Question Time blog: Minister says Port action 'should never have happened'

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has slapped down the Gladstone Ports Corporation during Question Time after it suspended a contract with a company after a worker asked Bill Shorten a tricky question during a recent media event.

Mark Bailey says the action at Gladstone Port "should never have happened".

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has slapped down the Gladstone Ports Corporation during Question Time after it suspended a contract with a company after a worker asked Bill Shorten a tricky question during a recent media event.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has slapped down the Gladstone Ports Corporation during Question Time after it suspended a contract with a company after a worker asked Bill Shorten a tricky question during a recent media event.

Mr Bailey rejected claims the port had directly sacked or suspended the father of three, who was a consultant employed by contractor Welcon Technologies.

“I am advised his employer Welcon Technologies directed him to other work, after the port raised concerns about his conduct on-site during a media visit,” he said.

“The port temporarily suspended a contract with the company while the matter was investigated.

“The contract with Welcon was reinstated and port work is available for the consultant, however, this should never have happened.”

He said it was very clear that any person should be free to approach elected officials or candidates and have an “honest conversation about their policies”.

“I have made by views about this clear to Gladstone Ports Corporation, which, as a publicly-owned corporation, must uphold these values,” he said.

The issue was raised along with questions over the State Government's handling of the removal of 17-year-olds from adult prison and the flow on effects that have emerged.

It further shocking revelations of the treatment of children in watchouses as revealed by the ABC’s 4 Corners last night including that Queensland’s Public Guardian raised concerns with the Premier’s office multiple times.

The Government has been unable to say when it will no longer need to house children in watchhouses for days at a time but last month announced it would build a new $150 million youth detention centre at Wacol to ease the pressure and provide more beds as part of a $320 million funding commitment.

Human rights groups have joined in calling for immediate changes including raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years as recommended by former police commissioner Bob Atkinson in his report to the Government last year.

The Government has so far only committed to considering the move.

Human Rights Law Centre legal director Ruth Barson accused the Government of breaching its own laws by “warehousing children in police cells designed for adults”

“The Queensland Government can fix this situation today by raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 and releasing kids who have not yet been convicted of any crime. Instead, the Palaszczuk Government is choosing to lock kids up in appalling conditions,” Ms Barson said.

“This is incredibly disappointing from a Government that just passed laws to protect Queenslanders’ human rights.”