Editorial: Qld politicians deserve to feel safe

Unless things change, we are heading towards an Australia where we only ever see our politicians behind bulletproof glass, writes the editor.

Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett and Member for Gympie Tony Perrett has been threatened.

One of the great features of Australian democracy is the accessibility of our elected representatives.

Members of parliament live in their own electorates (generally), interact with their communities and are usually happy to have a chat with constituents at the local shops about the issues of the day.

Most still do this, but as we report today they are feeling increasingly vulnerable as political intolerance and extremism becomes normalised in Australian life.

Premier David Crisafulli yesterday detailed threats against MPs as he revealed that they would be receiving a $6500 annual allowance for home security systems. It is a sad sign of the times that we live in.

The new allowance excludes ministers, the Opposition Leader and Speaker, who already have access to a security cost reimbursement.

“One (MP) has been physically beaten up, two have had threats – death threats – and one had a shotgun blared down their home phone,” he said. “So I reckon an independent body has looked at that and said that’s (the entitlements) probably OK.”

In November a man was found guilty of stalking Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett, while Member for Gregory Sean Dillon was assaulted during the election campaign.

The Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal has approved the reimbursement.

“The tribunal concluded home security measures would minimise the potential safety and security risks associated with members carrying out their role, functions and responsibilities in and for their electorate,” the tribunal’s report reads.

Of course, with rising levels of crime, particularly youth crime over the last few years, many ordinary Queenslanders would dearly love $6500 to install a security system at home. In this cost-of-living crisis many simply can’t afford that expense.

But we shouldn’t forget that our politicians are representing us, and if there’s a credible threat (and there is) then they shouldn’t have to be financially punished when protecting themselves and their families.

Hopefully, this measure will restore a feeling of safety for our elected representatives. We hope it is not another step in the distancing of the electorate from our politicians.

The assassination attempt against then US presidential candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania last July shocked people around the world, but in many ways it was just the latest example of a trend towards political intolerance and violence.

In Australia we might not have seen gunshots at political rallies, and we hope we never do, but we have seen eggs thrown, politicians jostled and press conferences and events hijacked by people who are so convinced they are right that the end justifies the means.

Fuelled by constant reinforcement of their views through social media algorithms, who knows what these people are capable of.

Unless things change, we are heading towards an Australia where we only ever see our politicians behind bulletproof-glass partitions.

GOOD NEWS ON CRIME AT LAST

Last week we reported on Joanna de Loryn, the 91-year-old grandmother who fought back when an alleged home invader snatched her handbag from inside her Holland Park West home.

Mrs de Loryn chased the man from her home screaming “you bastard”, but was left heartbroken when she realised the intruder had got away with her most precious possession – her engagement ring.

Her husband Bart passed away a year ago and Mrs de Loryn admitted she was “shaken” by the loss of the precious ring.

“The rings Bart bought me, those are things you’ll never get back. That’s the hardest part of it,” she said last week.

Mrs de Loryn’s story struck a chord with a community thoroughly sick of crime, as did our reports about the residents of Rochedale South and their efforts to track and report youth criminals in their area.

Yesterday there was a breakthrough for Mrs de Loryn, with police arresting a 44-year-old man and charging him with eight counts of fraud, three counts of burglary and two counts of receiving tainted property.

More importantly it looks like the ring may have been found, with police informing Mrs de Loryn that jewellery had been recovered. They will now give her the chance to identify it.

We hope you get everything back that was taken, Mrs de Loryn, and while we admire your bravery and determination, we hope you never again come face-to-face with the scourge of crime.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Qld politicians deserve to feel safe