We were wrong, says Campbell Newman

CAMPBELL Newman yesterday announced the reversal of the Queensland government’s more controversial policies.

CAMPBELL Newman offered a mea culpa on his combative leadership style and yesterday announced the reversal of the Queensland government’s more controversial policies following the government’s thumping by-election defeat at the weekend.

The Premier conceded his government “has got it wrong’’ on many issues as he faced internal cabinet pressure over the 18.4 per cent swing to Labor in the by-election for the inner-Brisbane seat of Stafford.

Just nine months from when the state’s next general election is due, Mr Newman said the policy backdown should show the electorate that he was listening to its concerns.

The government will reinstate the requirement for bipartisan support for the head of the crime and corruption watchdog.

And Mr Newman also conceded that the government had gone too far with a series of “inappropriate’’ measures.

The government will end the segregation of jailed bikies from the general prison population and remove a requirement they wear pink jumpsuits. And a controversial trial of budget estimates hearings, that saw them compressed to two days, will revert to the old system spanning seven days.

The government has also promised to hold talks with the judiciary after anger at the appointment of Tim Carmody as the state’s new chief justice.

The swing in the by-election, which was sparked by the resignation of Liberal National Party MP Chris Davis after clashes with his government over several policies, was the biggest in Queensland in decades.

Mr Newman said the changes would show voters and others that he was listening to their concerns. “I accept we got it wrong on those particular issues and I’m not too proud to say so.’’

But Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the LNP’s soul-searching was about self-­interest. “There is no real understanding from the Premier and his cabinet about the magnitude of hostility out there,” she said.