LNP's hypocrisy on young people

The LNP’s Law and Order double standard was laid bare yesterday in the Election eve pronouncements on knives wanding and pill testing.

QCCL Vice‑President Terry O’Gorman said that the LNP announced yesterday it would extend ‘Jack’s Law’ to frisk mainly young people in public places for knives in order to save lives but will scrap pill testing at schoolies next month despite evidence that it saves lives.

“The election inspired Law and Order stance of the LNP is downright hypocritical with the LNP saying it does not support pill testing at any event because it supposedly ‘sends the wrong message’ while at the same time the Queensland President of the AMA, Dr Nick Yim, has said that pill testing is a good opportunity to prevent poisoning and deaths from drug taking among young people”, Mr O’Gorman said.

“This is against the setting where a new version of Ketamine is on the market which can lead to death”, Mr O’Gorman said.

Mr O’Gorman said that with statistics showing 50% of young people using the CheQpoint drug testing programme introduced in Queensland in March this year willing to use the facilities to keep themselves safe, the LNP Law and Order push to ‘save lives’ by constantly parading victims of crime before the media during the current State Election campaign including yesterday’s announcement to extend wanding young people in public places does not extend to the same cohort of young people attending festivals. 

“The LNP stance that ‘there is no safe way to take drugs and pill testing sends the wrong message’ is a party political Law and Order stance that stands in stark contrast to the AMA’s damning statement against the LNP policy which the doctors’ organisation described yesterday as ‘particularly distressing’”, Mr O’Gorman said.

Mr O’Gorman said that Law and Order should not be allowed to be an Election plaything.

“State Government policies under the Law and Order banner should be directed across the board at community safety and saving lives”, Mr O’Gorman said. 

“Pill testing saves lives.  David Crisafulli as the aspiring Premier-to-be should be taken to task in respect of his party’s double standards on knives wanding and pill testing” Mr O’Gorman said.

Mr O’Gorman can be contacted during business hours on 07 3034 0000

or after hours on 0418 787182