Labor MPS taken to task at angry rally

I ATTENDED this week’s Take Back Townsville Crime Rally and raised the communication problem between police in Townsville and Police Link in Brisbane, with dysfunctional being the key word.

To her credit, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll took on board my concerns. The crowd was angry, indeed openly hostile to our three State Labor MPS, with many take-no-prisoner questions asked. One speaker even demanded the resignation of (Barry) O’rourke, (Scott) Stewart and (Aaron) Harper, which was met with much applause. Another stated how everyone in the workplace had to be accountable and asked if the three politicians were the exception to the rule.

I was disappointed with Mr Harper’s answer to my question of Minister Di Farmer’s previous public statement that it was the State Government’s goal not to incarcerate even repeat juvenile offenders, hence our revolving door problem.

Mr Harper said he did not know what I was referring to, but when another more informed speaker quoted the Youth Justice Act word for word, Mr Harper suddenly found his memory.

The best question of the night was would politicians, a simple yes or no, vote in parliament to make breach of bail an offence again. Dale Last and one other LNP MP stated yes, Mr Stewart and Mr O’rourke an emphatic no, and Aaron being Aaron, gave a rambling evasive answer that no one seemed to understand.

I believe the sentiment in the room represented the frustration and anger of the wider Townsville community.

BARRY DAVIES, Cranbrook.