Standard response backlash for govt

The Premier’s office has been busted requesting a standard generic response be sent to a victim of crime after a staffer “replied all” to an email seeking help.

In a leaked series of correspondence obtained by The Courier-Mail, a Queenslander who says they have had their home broken into for the fourth time in two years writes to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (inset) requesting “please take action now”.

“I don’t feel safe in my own house,” the person writes in an email dated May 25. “Madam Premier, when are you going to actually do something to stop this? Please take action now. The people of Queensland have had enough.”

The person sent the email to several people including Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter and Townsville MPs.

But a staffer, seemingly meaning to forward on the correspondence, then replies to everyone, including the crime victim, saying send “standard response please”.

The victim then also “replies all”, describing the response as “typical of a government that has lost touch with its constituents and voter base”. “No doubt this was a clerical error that should have been received by one of your minions before they were to respond with contempt and arrogance that comes with being in power for to (sic) long,” they write. “Those in your office (are) charged with keeping the public at bay, deflecting, hiding from and basically covering your head.”

A government spokesman confirmed the Premier’s office had reached out to the person directly on Friday afternoon. “The email was sent in error.”