Redland mayor Karen Williams text messages over youth justice petition revealed in parliament

Text messages between Redland mayor Karen Williams and the Opposition Leader David Crisafulli over a petition on youth justice have been revealed in parliament.

A southside mayor has come under scrutiny, after she took credit for a petition to tighten the Youth Justice Act when the document was allegedly drafted by the LNP.

Capalaba MP Don Brown tabled papers and text messages, released under the Right To Information Act, between Redland mayor Karen Williams and the leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli and Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson.

The text messages were allegedly sent the day before Ms Williams launched the petition on June 10 on the roadside in Alexandra Hills where a couple Matt Field and Kate Leadbetter, and their unborn baby, died when a drunken teen crashed into them.

Less than two weeks later, Ms Williams drove drunk and ran her luxury council-owned car into a fence minutes after holding an online conference meeting with the families and handing down the city’s budget.

Mr Brown told parliament Mr Crisafulli had “hand-picked” the mayor to run an LNP campaign on juveniles breaching bail using victims for political gain.

“Hasn’t that blown up in their face?” Mr Brown said in parliament.

“She never cared about them (victims’ families) … you wouldn’t drink and throw back wines with drink-driving victims on a zoom call and hear their agonising stories, then jump in the car yourself and crash it, three-and-a-half times over the legal limit …

“ … It wasn’t her petition, it was his petition. He didn’t have the guts to do it himself but he hand-picked Karen to do it and it has blown up in their face,” Mr Brown told state parliament.

Text messages between Redland mayor Karen Williams and the Opposition Leader David Crisafulli over a petition on youth justice have been revealed in parliament by Capalaba MP Don Brown.

The text messages, read to parliament, from Ms Williams to David Crisafulli said: “Let me know when you have the words for the petition and I’ll get it prepared,” the parliament heard.

Mr Brown read another text from the mayor which said: “We’ll pressure the government to change legislation based on this and I’ll have the petition ready to go in the morning. Take care. K”

Ann and Russell Field join Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli and Redland Mayor Karen Williams to call for an appeal on the sentence handed down to the teen driver who killed their son Matthew Field, his partner Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child Miles in Alexandra Hills. PHOTO: Tara Croser

The LNP leader was contacted for comment. His office said the full text messages showed Ms Williams organised the petition and she contacted Mr Crisafulli, who enabled the parliamentary petition on behalf of the mayor.

The Opposition leader’s office said it helped to get the petition to the Clerk of parliament and Ms Williams helped organise a meeting between the Leadbetter family and Mr Crisafulli.

Mr Crisafulli’s office said text messages from Ms Williams showed her message saying: “Petition was lodged late last night. Just want change and not concerned about who makes it happen.”

Another text from the mayor to Mr Robinson said: “I actually got Don Brown to sign the petition so it probably has the best chance of driving change that we have.

“I appreciate your kind words and yes, it was hard, but nothing compared to what Russ and Ann have to endure.”

Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson took offence when Mr Brown read out his text message to Ms Williams and asked for it to be withdrawn.

Mr Brown also told parliament Ms Williams was going to “collect a pay cheque and not resign doing the bare minimum – all the while supported by the LNP”.