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The Queensland Agenda
Campbell Newman participated in The Queensland Agenda OurSay in January, where you asked the questions in the lead up to the Queensland election. His responses to the three most popular submissions can be found on our blog at blog.oursay.org.
The Question
Will you close the loophole in Qld law that allows “gay panic” to be used as a defence to murder? An expert legal committee has recommended changes that will close the loophole unless there are “exceptional circumstances”, will you match the government’s commitment to implement the recommendations?
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@OurSayAust: YES. CLOSE IT. What kind of legal system enables gay-bashing and worse, in this way? What next? Politician panic? Woman panic? Muslim panic? Child panic? http://oursay.org/s/10f
This is a barbaric, archaic part of our legal system and needs to be changed.
When laws like these are enforced, I am embarrassed to be an Australian. I am embarrassed to live in a country that declares itself free and democratic, forward thinking and equal yet allows the hospitalization and murder of our fellow human beings simply for their sexual orientation. If the same law was in place for gay people, every gay woman who was being sexually approached by a man would be allowed to kill said man, if she were in a state of panic. Same thing, yet it sounds cruel and barbaric. The gay panic loophole is just that.
The so-called "gay panic defence" is revolting and unscientific. It exists singularly to abuse prejudices amongst a jury and release murderers back on our streets scot-free. Abolish this disgusting anachronism now!
Anyone with half a brain cell can see this is a totally offensive law, it certainly does not require spending public money on a review!!! Can we change the law to politician-panic instead please...
Just fix it.
Let's move out of the dark ages into 2012 ... abolish this ridiculous law now.
How about the yobbo redneck panic defence instead?
The Government has released the report of the Committee that was looking into whether changes were needed to the law. The majority decided: changes needed. To me, this report indicates one major point we have been trying to say all along: one can put up all sorts of barriers to why things can’t be changed, or instead, one can decide that change is needed and set about working to overcome any difficulties and barriers. The 2 cases that occurred in my region are described in more detail. Please Have a read of those two cases, they are shockers! Legal fineries and distinctions aside, what is your reaction to the conclusions and interpretations overlaid on the situations described there? Is this what our society and our legal system wants to continue to make concessions for? I felt alarm.// Thank goodness for Shelley Argent's and Mark Thomas' comments in this report; a ray of light and eminent sense: "Parliament should not shy away from changing it because it was difficult to describe the desired result." the report is at http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/134275/report-to-the-AG-20120117.pdf
Please abolish this rediculous law.