Gold Coast DV campaign hots up with dirt sheet distributed by LNP

The Gold Coast’s only Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon is the target of a campaign by her political rivals which will see leaflets sent to every home in her constituency. See what they’ve written.

Labor's Meaghan Scanlon at a press conference at Gaven. Photo by Richard Gosling

THE LNP is poised to flood the Gold Coast with a DV dirt sheet on Labor’s policies which specifically targets Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon.

In a political offensive which speaks volumes about the Opposition’s plans to unsettle the rookie politician, the LNP will distribute the inflammatory leaflets to every home in her northern Coast electorate.

The leaflets include a photograph of Ms Scanlon with headlines about her voting in Parliament to give domestic violence offenders ten days taxpayer funded DV leave.

LNP leaflet on Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon and her support for DV paid leave.

Asking taxpayers “How can you vote for Labor”, the leaflets contain newspaper quotes saying “wife bashers are getting paid to take DV leave”.

“Send (Premier Annastacia) Palaszczuk a message – victims should come first,” the LNP leaflet says.

The ALP is furious about the campaign because it argues the Opposition gave bipartisan support to DV reforms and paid leave would only occur in special circumstances where counselling was needed.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week announced the rules were tightened with perpetrators not allowed to access leave for court purposes, and had to access all holiday and sick pay leave first.

Ms Scanlon was the only Coast MP to speak during a recent DV debate, saying community leaders believed that without addressing the behaviour of violent offenders, the cycle of domestic violence could not be broken.

Meaghan Scanlon handing out how to vote flyers during the last state election. Photo by Richard Gosling

“If providing paid leave to those who use power and control in their relationships prevents further harm and facilitates access to treatment, then it is a policy that both sides of the House should support,” she told Parliament.

Asked yesterday for a response to the LNP’s campaign, Ms Scanlon told the Bulletin: “I’m not going to politicise domestic violence. I’m committed to do what works.”

Opposition spokesperson for health and women Ros Bates said she was “horrified” to learn that Ms Scanlon supported taxpayer funded leave for domestic violence perpetrators.

“As a survivor of 15 years of domestic violence myself, I can’t understand how anyone could think this is a good idea,” she said.

“No one denies the importance of rehabilitating offenders, but they should be doing it in their own time at their own expense.

“I’d rather see this money being spent on more support for the victims and their families.”

Ms Bates called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to listen to the community and “scrap this crazy policy”.

Ros Bates talking to then Gavin MP Sid Cramp during pre-polling. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It was never recommended in the Not Now, Not Ever report and shows that Labor’s priorities are all wrong,” she said.

“If the LNP is elected at the next election the policy will be axed, but we shouldn’t have to wait two more years for that to happen.”