Queensland politics as it happened: Crisafulli walks back AG hate speech powers; ‘Incorrect and insulting’: Government rejects reports on crime data

Tabling the posts during question time, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie described Healy’s comments as anti-Israel, antisemitic, and playing into racist tropes.

“You are an antisemite,” Bleijie repeatedly yelled at Healy.

Several government MPs used the posts to call on Opposition Leader Steven Miles to sack Healy from his shadow cabinet, or stand down as leader himself. Bleijie called the comments “unforgivable”, as Premier David Crisafulli interjected with calls of “it’s over”.

It all comes as the government prepares to debate and pass its contentious hate speech and gun control laws, slightly changed from what were originally proposed.

Government MPs returned to the subject after the lunch break. Healy responded, saying the claims were “the furthest thing from the truth”, and that he had deep connections with the Jewish community and stood against antisemitism and racism.

“What also is unacceptable is the killing of innocent men, women and children. I will always voice my concerns about what is happening in Gaza, in Israel, in Iran, in Ukraine, and anywhere where innocent lives are being indiscriminately lost,” Healy said.

“The theatrics of this morning are a smoke screen for the division within the LNP’s own ranks and for this government’s failure to deliver what matters for Queenslanders.”

Butcher moves to have elements of the bill dealing with the banning of phrases pulled and reconsidered by a parliamentary committee by April 17, with the rest left to be passed with Labor support.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles says this is necessary because, he says, the phrases were not properly considered in scrutiny of the bill, as they were initially to be banned via regulation.

“This entire process has been clever politics from a clever politician, but it has backfired spectacularly,” Miles says, labelling it “the most embarrassing rebuke of a premier that I have seen”.

“We stand on this side of the house in support of stronger gun laws that will keep the community safe. In opposition to antisemitism, but also in support of freedom of speech.”

In response to Miles, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington says the change was being made “so future Labor governments cannot quietly come in and change the regulation”.

Frecklington accuses Labor of wanting to kick the protection of the Jewish community “into the long grass”.

The government uses its numbers to block Labor’s push – supported by Greens MP Michael Berkman.

And with that, comes a lunch break.

“Suggestions that anyone who complains to police about being assaulted isn’t being thoroughly investigated and included in victim numbers is incorrect.”

Labor members in parliament suggested the changes were “secret”. This all comes after Premier David Crisafulli staked his leadership on a fall in crime victim numbers.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber had earlier spruiked the fall in victim numbers under the government’s measure. After noting a 7.2 per cent drop in those numbers over the past year, Gerber was drowned out by laughter from Labor opposition benches.

Assistant Commissioner Katherine Innes also responded to the reporting, saying the Queensland Police Service: “will always prioritise and investigate allegations of assault committed by or against young, vulnerable members of our community”.

“Amendments to the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 in no way diminishes the responsibilities of police to investigate reports of assault and harm involving young people in a domestic and family violence setting,” she said in a statement this morning.

Premier David Crisafulli passes on the parliament’s condolences to Bird’s family – including her husband John watching from the public gallery – after Bird’s passing on November 17, at the age of 83.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles says Bird won her seat in the Goss landslide of 1989 by just 12 votes.

“Despite this close result, Lorraine was a strong representative and earned the trust and respect of her community going on to serve the people of the Whitsundays for three terms,” Miles said.

Whitsunday LNP MP Amanda Camm and McConnell Labor MP Grace Grace note in their speeches they had decided to wear trousers in the chamber today.

“A nod for Lorraine, who, in 1990, after receiving permission from the Speaker, became the first female MP to wear trousers in the Queensland Parliament,” Camm says.

“Now, it may not seem much, but it was another step, as outlined by the premier and leader of the opposition, in the road for women in this house.”

The changes come as the state’s Labor opposition conceded it would back the bill ahead of today’s parliamentary return, despite internal pressure and fears that some elements would go too far, and others would fall short.

Flagged after the December attack on a Jewish Hanukkah event in Sydney, Frecklington introduced the suite of laws last parliamentary sitting.

The bill goes further than any other jurisdiction, with two phrases on the banned list – the common pro-Palestine protest chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “globalise the intifada”.