Far north Queensland MP Billy Gordon will vote down pub-lockout laws

Gordon says he is open to compromise, but will join two Katter party MPs to vote against Labor’s plans as they stand for 1am lockouts and 3am closing times.

Independent Queensland MP Billy Gordon will vote against statewide pub-lockout laws, a key Labor election promise aimed at tacking alcohol-related violence.

The far north Queensland MP will team up with the two Katter party MPs to vote down the Labor government’s plans for 1am lockouts and 3am closing times for pubs.

Gordon said he was open to compromise, but would vote down the legislation as it stood because it could have serious economic consequences for his tourism-dependent electorate of Cook.

Gordon said his stand against the lockout laws did not mean he wouldn’t support the government in other policy areas, but it did show he would stand up for his electorate.

“I’m blessed to have very significant power, or influence, in the parliament and I want to use that in a responsible way,” he told ABC radio on Monday.

He said he had consulted widely about the lockout laws, including with police.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of evidence to support this type of legislation being implemented in far north Queensland, particularly in Cairns,” he said. “I don’t see why we need to start ... putting in place legislation that may have, I think, dire economic consequences.”

But Gordon said he was open to compromise and he could see how the lockout laws could be relevant in south-east Queensland.

Communities minister Shannon Fentiman has said the government would consult the crossbench MPs on the issue.

Source:  ABC News - 26th October 2015