Minor Party Backs Bringing Back Caning for Children and Adult Offenders

A Queensland political party has suggested bringing in the use of the cane for criminals, a method used by countries like Singapore.

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Katter’s Australian Party has drawn attention during the Queensland election campaign by proposing changes to abortion laws, and now the minor party is suggesting caning as a form of punishment for criminals.

The party is also pressing for Castle Law, which would allow the use of lethal force on home intruders.

Katter party’s Barron River candidate Ben Campbell has suggested the introduction of caning for both child and adult offenders.

“Caning is a punishment that is used in Singapore; let’s have a look at their crime rate,” he told reporters in Cairns.

“Their crime rate is quite low so they’re obviously doing something right. Adults should be caned as well.”

Campbell is also a strong supporter of Castle Law, which has received more than 40,000 signatures of support.

“Giving people in their home the ability to fight back and defend themselves against criminals is critical,” he said.

However, a bill proposing the law was not brought forward for debate in parliament last month.

Candidate’s Criminal Past

The campaign in the lead-up to the Oct. 26 election has also faced scrutiny over the criminal history surrounding the Katter Party.

On Oct. 21, Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie revealed details of Katter Party’s Mundingburra candidate Michael Pugh.

“[He] once used a sheathed bayonet in a home invasion while trying to collect a drug debt,” Bleijie said.

“Pugh had yelled ‘Don’t you go to the police you dogs, or (I) will come back and bash you.’”

“It’s unprecedented that the Katter party would put a candidate up who invaded a home with a bayonet to collect a drug debt.”

Pugh has admitted to pleading guilty to break-and-enter and theft with violence in his 20s.

Katter Softens Abortion Stance

Meanwhile, Katter Party leader Robbie Katter has toned down his approach to introducing legislation to reverse abortion reforms passed by the Labor government.

Earlier in October, Katter announced plans to repeal those reforms, making abortion a prominent talking point in the state election, overshadowing crime and the cost of living.

During the final candidate debate on Oct. 22, Premier Steven Miles questioned Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, leader of the Liberal National Party (LNP), on his personal beliefs regarding abortion.

Crisafulli reiterated his belief in a woman’s right to choose. This occurred despite Katter having earlier clarified that his bill would focus only on providing medical care to babies born alive after an abortion, rather than reversing broader abortion reforms.

Crisafulli labelled Katter “inconsistent,” stating, “The story keeps changing. The only consistency in all of it has been the LNP—we do not support changes to abortion in Queensland. Katter is as inconsistent as the government of the day.”