Angry residents of a community plagued by crime have criticized Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for ignoring them in favor of taking selfies at a fruit festival.
During a Wednesday crisis meeting to address the out-of-control crime wave pounding Toowoomba, the Labor Premier repeatedly turned down requests to speak with people.
She vowed to go to the Darling Downs town, which is 125 kilometers west of Brisbane, “imminently,” instead.
Locals, who live about a two-hour drive from Toowoomba, were outraged when they attended their debut at Chinchilla’s Melon Festival on Saturday.
The prime minister was seen joking with residents, waving to parades, and posing with first responders.
But, despite Ms. Palaszczuk’s claim that the event “puts smiles on people’s faces,” Toowoomba locals weren’t as happy.
David Littleproud, the leader of the National Party, urged the Premier to give a trip to Toowoomba high priority.
She flew directly over Toowoomba, so she could have landed and spoken with the locals, the man said.
To execute her work, she has to listen to people, speak in front of people, and seize opportunities when they present themselves.
During the Toowoomba Community Safety Forum on Wednesday night, hundreds of incensed residents gathered to discuss remedies for the town’s rising crime rate with senior police officers.
At the event were Darling Downs District Superintendent Doug McDonald, Assistant Commissioner George Marchesini, who is in charge of the Juvenile Justice Taskforce, and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
It comes after the loss of 75-year-old photographer Robert Brown, who was slain earlier this month while awaiting a cab in Toowoomba’s central business district.
In connection with his killing, three adolescents have been charged with murder.
At least 95% of the attendees, according to one distraught local at the meeting, were victims of crime.
When Ms. Palaszczuk declined many previous invites to the event, Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio personally invited her to the discussion.
She declined once again, telling Courier Mail that she will go to the struggling little town “imminently.”
On the deteriorating situation in Toowoomba, Mr. Antonio stated: “Toowoomba has witnessed gunshots in the street and a stabbing in the street, and that’s not what Toowoomba is about.”
“This is a much better community than that, and we really don’t want the folks that are doing those acts here.”
“We must cooperate to ensure that we maintain the viability, livability, and beautiful environment in which we live.”
»Annastacia Palaszczuk skipped Toowoomba crime conference for Chinchilla Melon Festival«
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