Residents Against Crimes

John-Paul Langbroek MP
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the LNP
Shadow Minister for the Arts
Member for Surfers Paradise

24 February 2010

Premier Anna Bligh was today challenged to report on what had become of Labor’s Youth Violence Task Force and its 16 recommendations from 2007 to tackle youth violence.

LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek said escalating youth and school violence* should be addressed in a bipartisan way and not by grand-standing and re-announcing a taskforce to look into it.

“Yesterday in Parliament we had the Premier standing up, grandstanding on the issue of school violence, but instead of taking action she chose to do nothing,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Last week I offered to work with the Government on ways to reduce violence in our schools, sadly that (offer) was turned down.

“What the Premier did yesterday was nothing more than another exercise in spin. In 2006 a youth violence task force was set up to address very similar issues as to that to be addressed by the Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence.

“I ask the Premier what has happened to the Youth Violence Task Force, and what has happened to the 16 recommendations it handed down in 2007 to tackle youth violence.”

Mr Langbroek said the LNP had introduced laws to limit the supply of alcohol to minors.

“Anna Bligh and Labor voted them down. But then a year later introduced the laws as their own after the Youth Violence Task Force backed the LNP’s laws,” Mr Langbroek said.

Mr Langbroek said only the LNP was serious about tackling youth violence and this morning in State Parliament he tabled draft legislation to amend the Criminal Code to include offences covering violence at schools, including banning fight clubs on school grounds.

Media contact: Bruce Mills 3406 7988

Lawrence Springborg MP
Deputy Leader of the LNP
Shadow Attorney-General
Member for Southern Downs

 24 February 2010

 Thugs who seriously assault police or emergency services workers will face a minimum of three months jail under laws introduced into State Parliament by the LNP today.

Deputy LNP Leader and Shadow Attorney General Lawrence Springborg said an overhaul of sentencing laws was needed to provide a strong deterrent to criminals who attacked police and emergency services workers.

“Police and emergency services workers have a tough enough job working to protect the community and criminals need to be sent a message that violent assaults, and spitting on and biting these officers, won’t be tolerated,” he said.

“Under Labor’s laws, criminals who attack police know they won’t face serious consequences with only one in three offenders going to jail.

“The LNP’s laws will not allow Labor’s weak sentencing laws to give thugs and idiots who want to use our police officers and emergency services workers as punching bags the soft option of court ordered parole or suspended sentences.”

Mr Springborg said it was time the Bligh Labor Government offered bipartisan support towards making Queensland’s streets safer for police and the community.

“The Western Australian Government last year introduced laws that provide for minimum sentences for offenders who assault police, so there is no excuse for the Queensland Government not to act now,” he said.

“The LNP introduced similar laws three years ago, but Labor used its numbers to defeat the move.

“I call on all Members of Parliament to put politics aside this time and support the LNP’s laws to better protect our hard working police and emergency service workers.”

Media Contact – Scott Whitby 0419 178 698

16 February 2010

Premier Bligh and the Labor Party have been challenged to give bipartisan support to proposed new laws from the LNP that will create new offences relating to assaults on school grounds.

The LNP renewed its call for new laws today, following the tragic death of a Brisbane school boy, with Opposition Leader John-Paul Langborek saying there was an urgent need to better protect teachers and students from violent attacks on schools grounds and to crack down on school fight clubs.

Mr Langbroek also called for the release of hidden State Government data that shows the number of weapons confiscated on school grounds.

Mr Langbroek said the LNP had introduced proposed new laws in 2007 to create new offences relating to assaults on school grounds, but Labor used its numbers to defeat the laws.

“My challenge to Ms Bligh and Labor is to show leadership and give bipartisan backing to the LNPs positive policies,” he said.

“The LNP laws aimed to give teachers and students increased protection from violence and to provide police with greater scope to investigate violence in schools,” he said.

“Our laws also sought to crack down on organised fight clubs at schools and moves by some students to glamorise violence by posting images of fights at schools on the internet.

“The LNP is happy to work with the Premier in a bi-partisan way to reintroduce these laws and ensure they are passed by the State Parliament.

“Schools are supposed to provide a safe, comfortable environment for students to learn and teachers to teach – they shouldn’t be a place of violence and intimidation.”

Mr Langbroek said comments from Professor Paul Mazerolle, who headed research and an advisory panel on youth violence for the government, could not be ignored.

“Professor Mazerolle says in many ways our schools really are becoming as violent as schools in the United States and that there is evidence that a knife culture is growing in our schools.

“I know a lot of parents and police would agree very strongly with Professor Mazerolle that there is a significant and growing level of violence in our schools.

“The LNP has previously questioned the Education Minister on how many weapons and what types were confiscated, but he refused to release the figures.

“The Premier can’t claim there is no problem when her Government either doesn’t have figures on how many knives are being confiscated or they are keeping the figures secret.

“School knife violence can only be redressed through strong leadership, education and enforcement.

“There should be absolutely no level of tolerance for knives and knife violence in our schools.

“As the parent of a 12-year-old boy myself, my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the students involved.

“The death of this young boy is devastating, and all Queenslanders are grieving today.”

Media contact: Scott Whitby 0419 178 698

Lawrence Springborg MP

Deputy Leader of the LNP

Shadow Attorney-General

Member for Southern Downs

 7 February 2010

 Community sentencing advisory council: LNP demands to know how many extra victims of crime due to Labor’s 5 years of delays

 Bligh and Labor have been asked to calculate how many serious criminals escaped a jail sentence and went on the re-offend as a consequence of the State Government using its numbers in parliament, five years ago, to quash new laws that would have created a Sentencing Advisory Council so that the community could have input on the appropriateness of sentencing.

 The call came from the LNP today in response to the State Government’s announcement that it would plagiarise LNP policy and finally set-up a community sentencing advisory council.

 However LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Attorney-General, Lawrence Springborg, wanted to know how many people had suffered at the hands of repeat offenders because of Labor’s decision to put politics ahead of community safety for the last five years by rejecting the LNP’s policy.

 Media Note: For a copy of the Opposition’s Private Member’s Bill (defeated by Labor) to create a community sentencing advisory panel please go to http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/51PDF/2005/PenSenSACAmdB05_P.pdf

 “We have been listening to the pleas of Queenslanders affected by crime for years, but in the case of Bligh and Labor those pleas have been falling on deaf ears,” Mr Springborg said.

 “People have been fed up with violent, repeat offenders receiving ridiculously lenient sentences, while their victims have been treated with bureaucratic contempt.

 “How many Queenslanders might have been spared the nightmare of having their lives destroyed by criminals who have been neither punished nor rehabilitated, but returned into the community by this government’s weak sentencing laws?

 Mr Springborg said of course the LNP welcomed the adoption of its own policies by Labor. But he said it was impossible not to think about the victims of serious crimes that never had to be victims if Bligh and Labor hadn’t actually voted against the very same policy five years ago.

 “We have been saying for years that the victims of crime and the community at large should be allowed more say in deciding what are appropriate punishments for those who transgress the law.”

 “The LNP will be seeking input into the establishment of the community sentencing advisory council, and keep a close watch on who is appointed to ensure it doesn’t become yet another Labor dominated toothless tiger out of touch with community concerns.”

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory

4 February, 2010

Labor’s ‘culture of secrecy’ must not be allowed to prevent an open enquiry into serious allegations of police corruption, the State Opposition said today.

LNP police spokesman Vaughan Johnson said questions of integrity went to the very heart of the public’s trust in the police service.

“Any doubt raised about this integrity must be investigated openly and thoroughly,” Mr Johnson said.

“Yesterday’s statement by the Police Minister that he has ruled out calling a public inquiry shows how Labor’s culture of secrecy continues to sweep these problems under the rug.

“This Minister should not be telling the independent Crime and Misconduct Commission what it can or cannot do.

“Almost every day there is some new scandal about how something has gone wrong under this government’s watch

“From the A1GP to missing guns and money in prisons, to Labor’s ties to lobbyists and big business to this government’s honesty over asset sales, the response to every controversy is to investigate behind closed doors.

“In every instance Labor refuses to let public scrutiny examine their actions and behavior.”

Mr Johnson said the Police Minister and the Commissioner seemed to be changing their stories daily about what they knew of the extent of alleged corruption from briefings from the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

“Because of this confusion, I have written to the Commissioner requesting a full briefing into these disturbing allegations of possible police corruption and involvement in the Gold Coast drug trade.

“If the Police Commissioner has held concerns about allegations of police corruption for 10 years – the only way to restore public confidence is for a full and open inquiry to take place.

“This is a Government that asks Queenslanders to trust them, but continues to hide those reasons to trust them behind closed doors.”

Media contact: Vaughan Johnson – 0428 115 547

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory

28 January 2010

Labor’s Shared Services Agency costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year has been exposed as yet another Bligh white elephant after a pay-roll bungle left the State’s entire Police force with no pay this week.

LNP police spokesman Vaughan Johnson said the situation was unacceptable and highlighted Labor’s inability to manage even routine matters like staff pay.

“Police officers who had bills to pay and automatic deductions that were due will be charged by their banks if funds aren’t there and the Government had better do the right thing and make up any short falls,” Mr Johnson said.

“It’s unbelievable that a single, so-called ‘human error’ could cause such chaos.

“Everyone knew the public holiday was coming so there can be no excuse.

“The Public Works Minister and the Premier need to explain what steps have been taken to ensure there is no repeat of this disgraceful situation.”

Media contact: Vaughan Johnson – 0428 115 547

Lawrence Springborg MP
Deputy Leader of the LNP
Shadow Attorney-General
Member for Southern Downs

27 January 2010

It’s 2010 but still no sign of the 2008/09 annual reports for any of the State’s courts or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

LNP Shadow Attorney-General Lawrence Springborg said if Police and other agencies could get their collective acts together and table annual reports last November, why not Attorney-General Cameron Dick.

“The word is the reports have been finished for months but are held up in his office,” Mr Springborg said.

“Why the delay …what is he trying to hide …

“Previous annual reports from the Chief Justice and DPP heads have been very critical of this Government’s performance … begging the question what nasties are in last year’s reports.”

Mr Springborg said it was no secret Queensland Courts were among the most inefficient in the country thanks to years of Labor Government mismanagement and under-resourcing.

“Reports of delays in hearing matters are legion …seems it starts in Mr Dick’s office.

“We were promised a new era of openness and accountability from Anna Bligh and Premier-in-waiting Mr Dick.

“But here we are in 2010 and we’re still waiting for data from 2008/09.”

 Media contact – Bruce Mills 3406 7988

Lawrence Springborg MP
Deputy Leader of the LNP
Shadow Attorney-General
Member for Southern Downs

 24 January 2010

 Sentencing overhaul needed to stop rapists walking free

The LNP has pleaded with Premier Bligh to give bipartisan backing to fix Queensland’s sentencing laws that have seen 21 convicted rapists walk free from court without having to spend a night in jail.

N.B. Sentencing figures obtained through Opposition questioning in Parliament are attached.

Deputy LNP Leader and Shadow Attorney-General, Lawrence Springborg, said he knew there was often a philosophical debate between the LNP and Labor on the issue of mandatory sentencing.

However, he said he hoped the Premier would agree that when it came to convicted rapists there should be no debate about whether they spend time in jail.

“Outdated Labor Party ideology is now blocking true reform of the justice system. This is a glaring injustice that can easily be fixed by amending the Penalties and Sentences Act to ensure that a judge must impose a jail sentence on a convicted rapist,” he said.

“That’s not extreme and it’s not controversial. It is commonsense and it is justice. This shouldn’t even be a debate with Bligh and Labor, it should just be fixed,” Mr Springborg said.

“I don’t for one second accuse Ms Bligh of having forgotten about the women she once worked with, because anyone who has ever had anything to do with a victim of rape could not ever forget the harrowing experience that the woman suffered and the challenges as they rebuild their lives.

“But what Ms Bligh has done is let down women everywhere. Ms Bligh has known this is a problem for over a year when her own hand-picked Attorney-General let it be known that the Labor government in Queensland believed in a policy of serious and non-serious rape.

“Instead of fixing this ludicrous and offensive Labor policy and standing up to her own party, Ms Bligh has let this injustice continue under her watch. And that is a great betrayal of the Queensland women who expected much better from her.

“Different sides of politics often debate whether a jail sentence is too weak or too harsh. But this injustice is in a category of its own. There should be no debate when it comes to the basic question of should a convicted rapist spend time in jail.

“Bligh and Labor try and duck this issue by saying the courts are responsible for handing down the sentences. They are. But it is the government that is responsible for writing the sentencing laws.

“If those sentencing laws stipulate that a convicted rapist must serve time in jail, then the courts will have to comply. The ball is in Ms Bligh’s court to fix the law.

“I say to Ms Bligh: put politics aside, put your own leadership squabbles aside and actually focus on the needs and wants of Queenslanders and give bipartisan support to fixing this loophole in the law.”

Media Contact – Scott Whitby 0419 178 698

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory

21 January 2010

The Police Minister’s office was on go-slow informing Queenslanders of the possible theft of Police clothing and identification badges from a Logan address.

LNP police spokesman Vaughan Johnson today questioned why it had taken the government a week to advise the public of the loss of the police badges, tags, vests and shirts.

“The Minister needs to explain the delay of nearly a week in advising the public,” Mr Johnson said.
“It’s been a bad week for the Minister …we’ve already had the loss of a service pistol and cash from Lotus Glen prison and now we’ve lost police kit and police IDs.

“Keeping this sort of information under wraps and away from the public is not good enough.
“Any loss of this nature should be reported and publicly advised immediately … not weeks or months after the event as was the case with the pistol.”

Media contact: Vaughan Johnson 0428 115 547 

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory

20 January 2010

Queensland girls under the age of 14 are twice as likely to be a victim of rape or attempted rape as any other age group.

LNP Shadow Minister for Police Vaughan Johnson said 2008-09 police figures showed 1736 girls aged 14 and under were victims of sexual offences and 321 of those were victims of rape or attempted rape.

“These are frightening figures with each one representing a child whose innocence has been destroyed,” Mr Johnson said.

“Young women aged between 20 and 24 was the second highest group reported, with 124 women the victim of rape or attempted rape.

Mr Johnson said the number of incidents of rape and sexual abuse reported was only the tip of the iceberg.

“As a community we should never give up fighting to stop this abuse against our children or any member of our community,” he said.

“Effective and up to date prevention programs for young children and strong community education on reporting violent sexually based crimes are vital.

“Rape is the most heinous crime that can be committed against women. 

“It is a non-negotiable position of the LNP that Government should do everything it can to prevent these crimes being committed against young girls and women in our community.

“Sexual assault has a huge impact on the victim which can last for the rest of their lives.

“Ensuring that victims feel confident they can report their crime is crucial.”

Media contact: Vaughan Johnson 0428 115 547

John-Paul Langbroek MP
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the LNP
Shadow Minister for the Arts
Member for Surfers Paradise

 18 January 2010

Missing gun underlines Labor’s prison shame

Alarm bells should be ringing after a three-day lock-down at high-security Lotus Glen Prison failed to find a missing 9mm Glock pistol, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Bligh Government needed to explain how a semi-automatic pistol was able to ‘go missing’ from a locked armoury.

“You have really got to wonder what’s going on, because we’re now hearing the prison was under-staffed at the time, by as much as 25 per cent,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Queenslanders need some straight answers from the Minister about how a semi-automatic pistol can just disappear in a high-security jail.

“We need answers about who had access to the armoury …when the number of guns were checked and who signed-off on the count.”

Mr Langbroek said the incident was further evidence of Labor’s poor management of the State’s prison system.

 Media Contact – Bruce Mills 3406 7988

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory
19 January 2010

Bligh Labor’s chronic under-staffing of the Police Call centre was putting the lives of Queenslanders at unnecessary risk, the LNP said today.

LNP police spokesman Vaughan Johnson said Premier Bligh needed to cut short her vacation/trade junket, return to Brisbane and sort a few issues out – starting with the chronic understaffing of the Police call centre.

“What’s happening is a disgrace and risking the lives and property of Queenslanders who pay their taxes and deserve a decent service from Police,” Mr Johnson said.

“Labor can find millions of dollars to spruik its fire-sale of state assets, but then scrimps on staff and resources at the Police call centre.

“We’re not talking about being put on hold to order pizzas …these are calls from residents concerned and panicking for their safety and the safety of others.”

Mr Johnson said the Premier and Minister needed to immediately redress the situation where the centre was regularly expected to operate with only two-thirds the necessary number of staff.

“Queenslanders deserve better. They need to know they won’t be kept waiting up to 30 minutes to report a problem ... and Police need to know they have the resources to get vital and life-saving information quickly and correctly.”

Mr Johnson said Bligh and Labor were helping criminals through ‘soft sentencing laws’ in our courts, while they starved front line Police and the call centre of resources to actually catch criminals.

“This Labor Government is hell-bent on protecting the criminal element from being apprehended by our professional front-line Police who just want to deliver a mantle of safety to the 99 per cent of Queenslanders who want their protection. 

“For many Queenslanders, the Police call centre should be the quickest and easiest way to accessing that protection in an emergency situation.

“Rapid responses to calls for Police are vital in the fight against crime.

“Where’s the deterrence to would be criminals if they know they’re not going to get caught because Police phone lines are busy.”

 Media contact: Vaughan Johnson 0428 115 547

Tougher penalties and stronger deterrence are needed to tackle offenders who commit drug or alcohol fuelled violence.

LNP Shadow Minister for Police Vaughan Johnson said the current fine regime for serious breaches of public order clearly was not working.

“If repeat offenders and violent thugs are not getting the message when they get a fine and a slap on the wrist, it’s time we hit them where it hurts,” Mr Johnson said.

“We need to give courts the power to ban people from licensed premises and institute a regime of community service penalties that have a real impact on offenders.

“The LNP will be examining closely South Australia’s legislation and is currently developing a strong response for tackling this huge problem.

“In 2008/09 there were 50,700 reported offences against public order —almost 2000 more than the previous year.

“The time for making excuses for violent thugs is over, its time for action.

“Queenslanders have had enough of a violent few ruining the fun for the majority who do the right thing.”

Media contact: Vaughan Johnson 0428 115 547 

6 January 2010.

6 January 2010.