‘Non-event’: Cook MP criticised for text message following alleged Ipswich stabbing
A Queensland MP has faced criticism for a text message sent defending the LNP’s failure to include serious offences, including attempted murder, in its first wave of Adult Crime, Adult Time reforms earlier this year.
Cairns
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A Far North MP has faced criticism for a text message sent defending the LNP’s failure to include serious offences, including attempted murder, in its first wave of Adult Crime, Adult Time reforms earlier this year.
But Member for Cook David Kempton says his remarks were not related to an alleged stabbing involving a teenage boy in Ipswich earlier this year and apologised if they had caused any distress.
The LNP introduced the Making Queensland Safer Bill late last year but didn’t include stronger penalties for a number of crimes, including attempted murder and rape at the time.
The omission prompted outrage when a teenage boy who allegedly knifed a woman inside an Ipswich supermarket in January couldn’t be tried under the tough new laws.
A Right to Information request provided to the Labor opposition recently uncovered a text message from Mr Kempton after the stabbing, who appeared to describe the horrific incident as a “non-event”.
“No children convicted of attempted murder in the last decade,” the Cook MP’s text said. “They are making a big deal over a non-event.”
During question time on Wednesday, Premier David Crisafulli was asked whether he would defend Mr Kempton’s message. In response, Mr Crisafulli said he didn’t share the Member for Cook’s opinion.
“I disagree with the assessment, and if I agreed with the assessment, we wouldn’t be introducing legislation to deal with it,” he said.
Mr Kempton, a former criminal lawyer with more than 40 years experience, said his message was related to criticism of the LNP’s Making Queensland Safer Laws and not the Ipswich incident.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “That was a heinous crime and that perpetrator will be brought to justice in due course.
“This was simply about the attempted murder charge that was not included in the first tranche (of laws introduced by the LNP).
“If anybody makes that connection between that atrocious crime and my comments then I apologise unreservedly.”
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Mr Kempton’s message was “disgraceful”.
“David Kempton has shown he is totally out of touch with our community,” Mr Healy said.
“It’s clear that the LNP doesn’t have a clue about addressing crime in this state and comments by Mr Kempton are not helpful.
“The LNP would rather politicise crime instead of delivering on his promise to implement gold standard early intervention and prevention.”
No child had been charged with attempted murder in the decade prior to the Ipswich incident, Mr Kempton said.
“So my comment about it not being included in the first tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws was that it was really a non-event,” he said.
Originally published as ‘Non-event’: Cook MP criticised for text message following alleged Ipswich stabbing
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