When Queensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner spoke out, the LNP’s next move was calculated and brutal. Community groups now fear retribution – and funding cutsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner, Beck O’Connor, found herself in the crosshairs of a new Liberal National party government that had staked its future on a promise to serve the interests of victims of crime. In the government’s first nine months, O’Connor made a few mild and reasoned criticisms of its hardline crime plans.On the signature “adult crime, adult time” measure she said advancing victims’ rights “should not be to the detriment of universal human rights”. She then called plans to allow police to issue year-long domestic violence orders “an experiment with unintended but not unforeseen harmful consequences to our community”. In July last year came a final straw. The government released crime statistics it said were a “transparency boost” on victim numbers. O’Connor sent out a media release – which has been since scrubbed from the commissioner’s website – suggesting that the statistics did not reflect the reality for victims, criticising the lack of baseline numbers and calling for an independent authority on crime data. Continue reading...
The cautionary tale of Beck O’Connor … and a government accused of using ‘threatening’ tactics to silence critics
TH
The Guardian - Australia NewsBy Ben Smee and Andrew Messenger
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When Queensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner spoke out, the LNP’s next move was calculated and brutal. Community groups now fear retribution – and funding cuts Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Queensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner, Beck O’Connor, found herself in the crosshairs of a new Liberal National party government that had staked its future on a promise to serve the interests of victims of crime. In the government’s first nine months,
Key Takeaways
- The cautionary tale of Beck O’Connor … and a government accused of using ‘threatening’ tactics to silence critics.
- When Queensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner spoke out, the LNP’s next move was calculated and brutal.
- In the government’s first nine months, When Queensland’s first independent victims’ commissioner spoke out, the LNP’s next move was calculated and brutal.
Read Complete Original Article
Published originally on The Guardian - Australia News
