The same rule would not apply to the candidates vying for election.
“In order to be said to have published an allegation,it will be necessary to have released information to the public at large or a portion of it,” Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath told Parliament on Thursday afternoon.
“In this respect,for example,a print or online newspaper article or information posted to a public social media account would be caught but a local member writing to inform an individual constituent that a matter has been referred to the[Crime and Corruption Commission] would not.”
By Friday morning,the Attorney-General advised the bill had been withdrawn"given the limited time for the parliamentary legal affairs committee to consider the law changes the CCC seeks".
Any person with even a passing knowledge of Queensland’s political history – particularly the Fitzgerald Inquiry triggered by media reporting of official corruption - should shudder at the prospect that this"withdrawal"is temporary.
Before the U-turn,the Attorney-General argued the offences were designed to “enhance the integrity of Queensland’s electoral processes by ensuring that public debate in an election period is not hijacked by the publication of baseless allegations and complaints that are politically motivated and designed to do nothing more than inflict reputational damage on political opponents”.
“Queenslanders have the right to be fully and reliably informed in relation to relevant matters as they head to the polls,not distracted by publication of fanciful allegations and complaints,” Ms D'Ath said.