Aaron Harper has responded to backlash after he lashed out at protesters at a Townsville crime rally

Aaron Harper has accused the LNP of trying to hijack a Townsville youth crime rally as he labelled an exchange with the crowd ‘disappointing’. READ HIS APOLOGY.

Aaron Harper has revealed he “fronted up” to the Townsville Rally Against Crime to hear from victims of crime, and described the whole exchange as “disappointing” after he lashed out at the crowd.

The Thuringowa MP labelled a group of protesters at the Townsville a “rent a crowd” and “bloody LNP” as he was heckled and booed while trying to speak.

“When you actually want to hear from me I’ll start,” he said on Sunday.

“You called me here so I’m either going to bloody speak or I’m not.

“I bet you if I walked around half of you are bloody LNP anyway. Old rent a crowd.”

Crime Rally outside Qld Country Bank Stadium Townsville, where the Premier is holding a community cabinet meeting. MP Aaron Harper.

Mr Harper acknowledged that he spoke harshly when he was being heckled.

“Perhaps in the heat of the moment, when you’re being yelled at and abused like that, it was pretty nasty and in the moment, that was taken incorrectly,” he said.

“But I wanted to speak to victims of crime.”

He later issued a statement on his Facebook page where he apologised to victims of crime.

“I want to apologise for the words I used,” he said.

“They were absolutely not aimed at victims of crime, who I know have been through some very tough times.

“My comments were aimed at LNP members who were attempting to hijack the event for their own political purposes. This was very disappointing and took the focus away from genuine victims of crime.”

Mr Harper said he did not believe his antics lost supporters for the Labor party.

Mr Harper said he wanted to tell them about the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee so they could hear from victims in North Queensland.

“I have to question the motive of the LNP members that were there to disrupt and hijack that because perhaps they’re reluctant to actually want to work with government on that committee,” he said.

“I’ve had informal conversations with members of the LNP and there is reluctance to travel to Townsville.

“Well I say I’ll stand up for Townsville on this matter, and that is why I want to see change.”

He said the media did not report that a woman in the crowd was “exasperated” by the exchange and wanted to hear from him.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper after inflammatory comments made about voters at a recent rally against crime.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters “victims of crime are front and centre” while standing alongside Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper in Townsville.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was thankful for the people who spoke to her at the deputation.

On Sunday, hand-picked members of the community, including rally organiser Clynton Hawks, met with the Premier.

“Our members were meeting with members of the community for over three hours yesterday, as well as the afternoon tea. I want to thank people for being upfront and honest,” she said.

“Aaron attend the meeting we had with Clynton, and Brett, and it was a very very productive, very respectful meeting, and I thank them for sharing our community’s concerns.”

When asked why she did not attend the rally, Ms Palaszczuk said she was in meeting and “everyone knew that they could meet with any minister”.

Originally published as Aaron Harper has responded to backlash after he lashed out at protesters at a Townsville crime rally