Miles fed up with political point scoring over tragedy
Fraser Barton |
Queensland Premier Steven Miles has accused the state opposition of politicising tragedy following the stabbing death of a grandmother.
Mr Miles was quizzed by the LNP in parliament on Thursday about the widow of Vyleen White calling for further legislative reform to address youth crime.
Ms White, 70, was fatally stabbed at Ipswich’s Redbank Plains shopping centre in front of her six-year-old granddaughter last month.
Five boys, aged 15 and 16, have been criminally charged, one with her murder.
Shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls asked if Victor White, Ms White’s widow, was correct to say similar crimes would continue until laws changed.
Mr Miles indicated he would take further advice from the courts and police on legislative reforms.
He said current laws had seen an increase in the detention of youth and adults, and the government would consider recommendations from a bi-partisan committee looking into further measures.
“We created that committee in good faith … to take some of the politics out of this,” the premier told parliament.
“I’m sick of seeing awful tragedies politicised in this place.
“We will consider carefully those recommendations as well as any other changes requested of us by the police commissioner.”
The daughter of Ms White had been in the gallery on Thursday during question time.
Cindy Micallef was adamant reform was necessary or more families would devastated by youth crime, like her own.
“This has been going on for too long,” she told reporters.
“They’re like a migration of ants – you get them in one area and they’re just going to spread somewhere else.
“They are going to avoid the hotspots where police are. They are not stupid.
“You need to clamp down and change the laws to know let them know this is not acceptable.”
AAP
