Federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton slams Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in the House before Toowoomba crime forum

Groom MP Garth Hamilton has criticised Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in parliament for ‘abandoning Toowoomba’ in its time of need as the city faces a youth crime crisis. Read what he had to say here.

Federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton has slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for "abandoning Toowoomba" in its time of need.

Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton has slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for “abandoning Toowoomba”, in its time of need.

The MP addressed parliament on Wednesday morning ahead of the Toowoomba Community Safety Forum which will be held at the Empire Theatre’s Armitage Centre this evening.

Federal MP for Groom Garth Hamilton has slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for “abandoning Toowoomba” in its time of need.

“My home of Toowoomba is grieving the death of Mr Robert Brown,” he said.

“Mr Brown died of injuries sustained in an attack that took place in broad daylight outside the Grand Central Shopping Centre.

“Footage shows his young attacker with great cowardice violently shoving Mr Brown from behind.

“His frail body hitting the road face first and never moving again before the young attacker then steals Mr Brown’s backpack from his lifeless body.

“What happened next has become an all too common story in Toowoomba – a stolen car, a police chase through our city – we’ve lived with this crime wave for too long.”

Photographer Robert Brown. Picture: Nev Madsen

Mr Hamilton told parliament everyone in Toowoomba knew someone who had been affected by the growing crime threat, whether it be having their house broken into, car stolen or being confronted “by a gang of youths”.

Following the callous act which tragically killed Robert Brown, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly shot by an 18-year-old woman at a Toowoomba hotel on Tuesday night.

Labelling the incident as “unacceptable” Mr Hamilton called on the Premier to not only visit the region but to also commit to three things.

He said breach of bail needed to be made an offence again, detention should no longer be the last resort for Magistrates and tougher minimal sentences should be introduced.

The Chronicle is encouraging residents to leave flowers to honour Robert Brown who died as result of injuries suffered in an alleged robbery outside Grand Central. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Remembering Robert Brown as a “photographer who loved to take shots” of the city he called home, the Federal MP said he refused for Mr Brown’s final words to depict him as a victim.

Addressing parliament, Mr Hamilton said “the faces of our happy children reflected in his lens and his own smile” were some of the things Mr Brown will be remembered for.

“He was a man who would sit and in his soft voice holding your hand talk about his photography as if nothing in the world was of a passing care. May he rest in peace.”

In the wake of Mr Brown’s death, The Chronicle launched its Enough is Enough campaign calling for the Premier to visit and speak with the community.

The Premier’s office declined to reveal where Ms Palaszczuk will be on Wednesday night, but it is understood she plans to visit Toowoomba at a later date.