May 15, 2014
Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie dropped into the South Burnett on Thursday to chat to local LNP members, businesspeople and JPs.
His whistlestop tour began with a breakfast for 40 party faithful at the Copper Country Restaurant in Nanango.
Then it was on to Kingaroy to meet local Justices of the Peace and Commissioners For Declarations in a morning tea in the Glendon Street forecourt.
The assembled JPs enjoyed nibbles prepared by Endeavour Kitchen while they listened to Mr Bleijie explain the long and loyal history of the “Keepers of the King’s Peace”.
Did you know that JPs date back to Richard I?
Neither did the JPs and C.Decs present, but after a lot of guessing from the crowd – and through a process of elimination – finally a winner hit on the right name and was presented with a book.
Mr Bleijie thanked the JPs and C.Decs for the services they provide to the local community.
He said there were about 88,000 JPs in Queensland and 800 in the Nanango Electorate alone, but he joked people were always complaining to him they could never find one when they needed one.
The Attorney-General also updated the JPs and C.Decs about the JP QCAT trial, where specially trained JPs have been sitting on the bench in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
He said the trial had initially been greeted by opposition from the legal profession but had proven to be a success.
He then asked the crowd another question: “What is the one thing that JPs have over the legal profession?”
“Common sense” came the answer.
With Mr Bleijie nodding in agreement, the JPs adjourned into the Kingaroy Town Hall for a professional development session while Mr Bleijie and his party left to make a surprise visit to Kingaroy Courthouse.
The Attorney-General entered the courtroom just in time to hear a local man, charged with possessing dangerous drugs and drug utensils, be sentenced to 12 months jail by Magistrate Mark Bucknall, who fixed a parole release date of today.
Mr Bleijie then listened from the public gallery as a 49-year-old disability pensioner pleaded guilty to producing dangerous drugs (four cannabis plants). Magistrate Bucknall placed her on six months probation.
The magistrate then adjourned the court to greet his guests.
Mr Bleijie finished his visit to the South Burnett with an interview at the studios of Wild Horse FM in Yarraman.
PS. Mr Bleijie has been the target of protests elsewhere over his controversial VLAD anti-bikie legislation. At the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt, the two uniformed police present were outnumbered by an equally low-key three protesters.
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