And despite hours of formal debate on the significant bill,neither LNP leader David Crisafulli – who has suggested the move wasa “trade off” between the Premier’s Labor Right faction and the dominant Labor Left around youth crime crackdowns – nor Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke.
The LNP ultimately supported the bills.
Loading
If you took only one example from state parliament last week that painted a broader picture,this was it:a government with the numbers to use processes as it wishes,and an opposition keen to oppose without always acting.
The week also saw the release of a survey of voters across a large chunk of this year,conducted forBrisbane Times,which showed asouring public perception of both Palaszczuk and Crisafulli.
It also showed one-in-four of those surveyed were“unfamiliar” with the LNP leader,despite almost full saturation for a premier the opposition and some media have sought to paint as out of steam,out of touch with voters,and enjoying “the high life”.
Loading
Personal attacks on Crisafulli by government members have ramped up in parliament and on social media. One LNP source suggests this “extraordinary” focus on an opposition leader showed Labor was worried ahead of the state election in 18 months.
But the calculation in the Labor camp appears to be that introducing voters to Crisafulli on their terms – including his record or equivocation on social issues such asabortion orIndigenous recognition,his role in the long shadow of the Newman government and the nationally damaged LNP brand,and so-far minimal state policy platform – is worth the risk.
ICYMI
After about a dozen public briefings,hearings and forums across the state,the government’sPath to Treaty bill has had the tick of approval from a parliamentary committee.
Loading
In a reportpublished on Friday,committee chair and Labor’s Mansfield MP Corrine McMillan recommended the bill pass,while making some suggestions for the truth-telling inquiry it will set up:in particular that the police commissioner,councils and non-government organisations such as churches should be able to be compelled to appear,given their roles in the state’s colonial history.
That work has beencited by Palaszczuk as one reason her government had not been able to up its game advocating for people to vote yes on the federal Indigenous Voice to parliament.
Palaszczuk and her team has since made a noticeable effort to encourage support for the Voiceon social media.
Heads up
Loading
The government is now gearing up for the next steps in its efforts to decriminalise the state’s sex work industry,releasing aQueensland Law Reform Commission report two years in the making on Monday.
In doing so,Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the government “broadly supports” the 47 recommendations set to be worked through before public consultation on draft laws she hopes can be brought to parliament by year’s end.
“No worker should have to choose between working safely and working legally,” Fentiman told reporters.