MP’s vicious attack on Palaszczuk Government’s backflip over freedom of speech laws

A Gold Coast MP says Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is “a national embarrassment” after a stunning backflip on draconian laws denounced as an attack on free speech.

THE Palaszczuk Government’s backflip on its controversial laws that would have jailed journalists reporting on corruption allegations is “a national embarrassment” says Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek.

The outspoken politician took to Twitter to blast the Premier, labelling her reasons for withdrawing a bill limiting freedom of speech as “specious and spurious” after a media outcry within 24 hours.

“Not just hopeless; a national embarrassment,” he said.

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LNP MP for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek. Photo: Scott Powick

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath announced on Friday morning that the bill would be withdrawn following widespread condemnation of the proposal.

“The government respects the recommendations of the CCC,” she said in a statement.

“However, given the limited time for the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee to consider the law changes the CCC seeks, the CCC Bill introduced yesterday in State Parliament is withdrawn.”

Q: ‘Hey @AnnastaciaMP @QLDLabor will you still respect me in the morning? asks @CCC_QLD

A: ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ #qldpol pic.twitter.com/MaDBzPJw3z

— John-Paul Langbroek (@JPLangbroek) August 13, 2020

Mr Langbroek told the Bulletin the bill should never have been introduced in the first place.

“It just shows that this Labor Government has no idea about the economy, no idea about the political process and no idea about how to run a cabinet and a government,” he said.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“They’ve lost complete touch with the principals of the Fitzgerald Inquiry which they love to taunt is the backbone of their government.”

He questioned how the bill got past cabinet when the Premier’s own senior advisers rallied against a similar proposal three years ago.

“It makes a mockery of the Premier’s oft quoted openness about integrity and accountability.”

Under the now withdrawn proposal, the Government had wanted to make it illegal to publish corruption allegations levelled against candidates for state and local government elections.

The offence carried a $6672 fine or a six-month jail term.