Labor play good cop/bad cop on booze laws

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the laws would continue to progress through the Parliamentduring the first sitting week, despite crossbencher concerns and calls from the Katters AustralianParty to delay the debate by a week. Picture: Tara Croser

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says the crossbenchers have had plenty of time to consider Laborslockout laws and she wont be budging on the timing of the debate.

Ms Palaszczuk also said she was yet to make up her mind about a recommendation by GovernmentMPs in the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee to wind back the sale of takeaway alcoholafter 10pm.

I havent made a firm decision on that, it was a recommendation of the report and I would really liketo hear the communitys views about that, she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Government now planned to give consideration to the recommendations ofthe parliamentary committee report on the lockout laws handed down yesterday.

But she said the laws would continue to progress through the Parliament during the first sittingweek, despite crossbencher concerns and calls from the Katters Australian Party to delay the debate

by a week.

The debate will commence next week, she said.

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Im adamant about that. These laws are too important. People have had a lot of time to considerthese laws.

Ms Palaszczuk would not say whether the Government had a back-up plan, should the laws fail topass through the Parliament.

Were going to continue speaking to the crossbenchers, but I would urge families out there to contacttheir local member to stress to them how important these laws are, Ms Palaszczuk said.

But the Premier said frontbenchers Yvette DAth and Anthony Lynham will be meeting withcrossbenchers in an effort to sway them.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath has not ruled out making further changes to the laws. Picture: LiamKidston

My Government will be talking to the crossbenchers at length, she said.

And its disappointing that the LNP has closed the door. This could have been something that we didtogether as a Parliament for the sake of young adults out there, for the sake of the community.

Ms Palaszczuk slammed the LNPs decision to not support the laws.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of the Opposition pushing this to one side and not listening toQueenslanders, she said, pointing to the results of a recent Galaxy Poll on the laws.

She said the proposed laws had broad community support.

These are not just Labor laws to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, these are community laws to tacklealcohol-fuelled violence, she said.

Asked about suggestions political donations may have played a role in the LNPs stance, MsPalaszczuk said: Well, I think the community can make their minds up about that.

The Police Commissioner urges a cultural change to stem alcohol fuelled violence

Meanwhile Attorney-General Yvette DAth says she will continue meet with Parliaments threecrossbenchers as the government fights to keep its plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence alive.

With the Opposition yesterday confirming their continued opposition to the move, the governmentmust secure the vote of either Independent Billy Gordon or Katters Australian Party MPs RobbieKatter and Shane Knuth to ensure the laws are not voted down when parliament resumes next week.