April 28, 2020
The LNP Member for Toowoomba North, Trevor Watts, has quit his role as a Shadow Minister after being fined for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr Watts, who was Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism and Shadow Minister for Corrective Services, offered his resignation after he was fined $1334 for attending a gathering in an East Toowoomba street on Sunday afternoon.
Off-duty police officers – a Sergeant and a Senior Constable – were also fined for attending the same gathering.
Police are working to identify another 12 people believed to have been at the same incident.
“I expect the highest standards from my team, especially my Shadow Ministers,” Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said.
“I have accepted the Member for Toowoomba North’s resignation.
“Trevor is more determined than ever to represent his local community as the LNP’s Member for Toowoomba North.
“I want to thank Trevor for his Shadow Ministerial service and his honesty in advising me of this issue.
“I have appointed Dan Purdie, the Member for Ninderry, as Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism and Shadow Minister for Corrective Services.
“Dan served in the Queensland Police Service for more than 20 years working as a detective in the Drug Squad, the Covert Unit, the Australian Crime Commission and the Homicide Squad.
“For almost a decade Dan worked in the Child Protection and Investigation Unit dealing with children, families and vulnerable Queenslanders.
“Since being elected in 2017 Dan has campaigned strongly against Labor’s soft-on-crime approach and in support of the LNP’s sex offender register and tough child killer laws.
“Dan has also served as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury.
“I have also appointed Marty Hunt, the Member for Nicklin, to the role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury.
“Marty is passionate about small businesses, which are the backbone of the Queensland economy creating local jobs.
“Marty served in the Queensland Police Service for almost 30 years before being elected to Parliament in 2017.
“I am determined to see the Queensland economy restarted as soon as possible and to do that everyone needs to follow the coronavirus directions.”
[UPDATED with correction]
