Priest demands release of 鈥榞ay panic鈥� findings
The Queensland priest behind the successful campaign to abolish the 鈥榞ay panic鈥� legal defence has welcomed the state Government鈥檚 proposed changes to the Criminal Code, but argues they donot go far enough.
Father Paul Kelly (pictured), whose Change.org petition was signed by more than 25,000 people, said while the changes were a victory for common sense and a great demonstration of people power, they did not go far enough to eliminate the prospect of the 鈥渉omosexual advance鈥� defence being put forward in court as a partial defence for murder.
Kelly also wants the findings of the expert committee report on the subject to be released for analysis.
Queensland Attorney-General Paul Lucas said the Government鈥檚 decision to act was, in part, in response to a recommendation from the special committee established in November.
鈥淚 am cautiously heartened by the developments, but I am calling on the state Government to release the expert committee鈥檚 report so that the tens of thousands of people who have signed this petition can examine the detail,鈥� Kelly said.
鈥淚 am concerned the Government is tinkering at the edges of this problem rather than completely eliminating the possibility of the gay panic defence being raised.
鈥淢y concern is that the 鈥榚xceptional circumstances鈥� provision will still allow defence lawyers to pollute juries by raising the gay panic defence.鈥�
Kelly is now calling on Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Campbell Newman to at least match the Government鈥檚 commitment and for both parties to take a strong stand on the issue in the new Parliament regardless of the outcome of the March 24 election.
Change.org Australian director Nick Allardice said Kelly鈥檚 campaign was a demonstration of the internet鈥檚 ability to be used to harness people power to effect change.
鈥淔ather Kelly鈥檚 Change.org campaign shone a spotlight on an archaic aspect of our law that needed to be addressed,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here is no doubt that the huge public response to his campaign had a direct influence on the Government measures announced today.鈥�
