LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has slammed the Palaszczuk Labor Government for rejecting the LNP’s tough new laws for child killers.
Ms Frecklington said The Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Mason Jett Lee) Amendment Bill 2019 would have strengthened the homicide framework in Queensland and protected vulnerable children.
“Killing a child is a reprehensible, despicable act and the LNP’s Mason Jett Lee laws would have delivered real justice for victims and devastated families,” Ms Frecklington said.
“My heart breaks thinking about the children who are harmed or murdered by evil cowards.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s new laws fall well short of what’s required to deliver punishments to child killers that meet community expectations.
“Labor’s laws merely tinker at the edges of a system that is tipped too heavily in favour of offenders.
“The current system will continue to fail our precious children.
“The community demands meaningful action to protect vulnerable children but Labor’s laws won’t deliver the justice victims deserve.”
LNP Shadow Attorney-General David Janetzki said he was deeply disappointed by Labor’s decision to vote against the LNP’s Bill and vowed to take the issue to the people of Queensland at the 2020 election.
“Children can’t fight back against an adult – which is why it’s our responsibility to protect them,” Mr Janetzki said.
“The LNP’s laws would have introduced a new offence of child homicide, with a mandatory 15-year jail penalty.
“The LNP’s laws would have also increased the minimum non-parole period for the murder of a child under 18 from 20 to 25 years.
"Unfortunately, evil cowards who commit these heinous crimes against our precious children will not be punished as the community demands.
“As a father of three young children, I can’t believe Labor played politics with tough child killer laws.”
