Qld: No security boost despite MP death threat

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
Qld: No security boost despite MP death threat

By Jessica Marszalek

BUNDABERG, Qld, Aug 31 AAP - The Queensland government is committed to open community
cabinet meetings despite a man trying to hit a minister and later revealing to police
he wanted to kill him at recent forum.

A 48-year-old man was ejected on Sunday after throwing a jug of water at Public Works
Minister Robert Schwarten during a one-on-one meeting with him during a public forum at
Bundaberg North State High School.

After throwing the water, the man tried to hit the minister with the jug as Mr Schwarten
raised his hands to defend himself against the blow.

The man was escorted outside by police, losing his shoes in the scuffle.

It was at that time the man said he was going to kill Mr Schwarten, a senior police
officer told reporters on Monday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Mr Schwarten told AAP they were not aware of the threat.

Earlier on Monday, the minister, who was nursing a bruised and swollen hand, expressed
concern for the man.

He said he had paid $70,000 up front for a kit home and lost the money when Coral Coast
Homes went under.

But because he did not sign a building contract he was not covered under the Building
Services Authority (BSA), Mr Schwarten said.

"He's really come along there yesterday expecting government to solve all of his problems
and the government can't do that," the minister told reporters in Bundaberg on Monday.

He said the "dangerous" incident was not a nice one but he felt safe participating
in future community cabinets.

"You don't expect to go to a community cabinet and for that to happen but I guess what
it shows is that people get very distressed," he said.

"He was certainly very distressed and quite frankly he's more to be pitied than scorned
in this circumstance.

"He's in desperate trouble and he took his frustrations out on me."

Mr Schwarten is not pressing charges relating to the assault but police have charged
the man with public nuisance and obstructing police.

He will face Bundaberg Magistrates Court on September 18.

Ms Bligh said the "rare" incident would not change anything about the way community
cabinets were run in the future, including security numbers.

She said there had been enough security at Sunday's meeting and she was committed to
keeping the meetings as open as possible.

"I want people to feel that they can walk into a school hall and meet with any member
of my government and my cabinet unimpeded by a strong police presence," she told reporters
in Bundaberg.

"I don't think that's necessary."

Sunday's community cabinet, which gave residents outside of Brisbane the chance to
meet one-on-one with government ministers and senior departmental officers, attracted
the largest number of registered attendees and around 300 protesters.

AAP jmm/ahe/ldj/jlw

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