Bill Byrne (politician)

The Honourable
Bill Byrne
MP
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
of Queensland
Assumed office
7 December 2015
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by Jo-Ann Miller
Minister for Corrective Services
of Queensland
Assumed office
7 December 2015
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by Jo-Ann Miller
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
of Queensland
In office
16 February 2015 – 7 December 2015
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by John McVeigh
Succeeded by Leanne Donaldson
Minister for Sport and Racing
of Queensland
In office
16 February 2015 – 7 December 2015
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by Steve Dickson
Succeeded by Curtis Pitt (Sport)
Grace Grace (Racing)
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Rockhampton
Assumed office
24 March 2012
Preceded by Robert Schwarten
Personal details
Born William Stephen Byrne
Political party Australian Labor Party
Website billbyrne.com.au

William Stephen "Bill" Byrne is an Australian Labor politician who was elected to represent Rockhampton in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland at the 2012 state election.[1]

Portfolios

After Labor's victory in the 2015 Queensland State Election, he was sworn in as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Sport and Racing in the Palaszczuk Ministry on 16 February 2015.[2]

In December 2015, Byrne's portfolio in the Palaszczuk Ministry changed when he became the new Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and the new Minister for Corrective Services.[3]

Rat Shooting Admission

In February 2016, Byrne admitted to using a .22 calibre rifle in his own home more than twenty years previously, to shoot rats.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk defended Byrne, stating that it is legal for someone to fire a weapon in their own home.[4] Palaszczuk's comments prompted Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg to seek advice about the legalities relating to someone shooting a firearm in their own private residence. Springborg said that he received correspondence from the weapons licensing division of the Queensland Police Service to confirm that firing a weapon in a private residence had been illegal since 1996. He described the Premier's comments as irresponsible.[5] The State Opposition called on the Premier to stand aside the Police Minister and claimed to have written to Police Commissioner, Ian Stewart, following the revelations. The president of the Queensland Shooters Union, Graham Park, also said that he believed Byrne may have committed an offence under the Weapons Act and suggested that those with rat problems use baits, rather than bullets.[6]

Byrne claimed he stopped using guns when the Port Arthur massacre occurred in 1996, declaring he was so disturbed by the massacre that he disposed of all his weapons immediately and gave up recreational hunting trips.[7]

Byrne also said that he was the victim of a smear campaign, citing an allegation that he had used a gun during a dispute with his wife in 2001. Byrne said that although his marriage at one stage was not a 'bed of roses' and suffered a significant breakdown, the allegation was just a rumour that had reached his Commanding General when he was in the Australian Army which led to an extended meeting in Melbourne where the rumour was discussed among other issues. Byrne also said the issue, along with a desire to rebuild his marriage, greatly influenced his decision to leave the army.[8]

Despite originally saying he had no problems with the public viewing his records, a Freedom of Information request by Brisbane newspaper, The Courier Mail to view Byrne's defence records was denied, partly due to an objection from an undisclosed third party. Byrne said it was not in the public interest to have the records released.[9]

The rat shooting admissions were referenced by opposing MP's in Question Time when Queensland Parliament sittings resumed in Brisbane on 15 March 2016. During Question Time, Liberal National Party MP, Jarrod Bleijie stood to ask a question with a toy rat sticky-taped to his shoulder, in reference to Byrne's rat shooting admission. The Speaker, Peter Wellington ruled Bleijie's question out of order due to a ban on props being used in parliament, and ordered the MP to remove the rat.[10][11]

Byrne's rat shooting admissions were mentioned in the media again in May 2016 when, as Police Minister, he defended why licenses and renewals for Category H weapons (handguns) that were lodged by rural landholders were being constantly denied. Byrne said he did not accept that pistols were a legitimate agricultural tool, labelling those in the agricultural industry who used handguns throughout the course of their work as "lone cowboys". Liberal National Party MP, Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said she was quite shocked that it seemed okay for "Wild Bill" to shoot rats in the ceiling of his home, but it wasn't acceptable for primary producers to have weapons as part of their work.[12] Another Liberal National MP, Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett also released a media statement drawing attention to the apparent hypocrisy of someone who had admitted to shooting rats in his house to make it difficult for responsible gun owners to obtain the appropriate licensing.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Green, Antony (2012). "Rockhampton". Queensland Votes 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Queensland's new Labor Cabinet sworn in at Government House". Australian Broadcasting Corporation 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Four new faces in expanded Queensland Cabinet revealed by Palaszczuk, ABC News, ABC online, 7 December 2015
  4. ↑ Queensland police minister admits to using guns to shoot rats, AAP, news.com.au, 29 February 2016
  5. ↑ Video: Springborg fires political shots over 'rat shooting', Michelle Gately, The Morning Bulletin, 2 March 2016
  6. ↑ Call for investigation into Police Minister Bill Byrne for shooting rats at his suburban home, Steven Wardill, The Courier Mail, 29 February 2016
  7. ↑ Port Arthur massacre made Police Minister Bill Byrne stop shooting rats, Brisbane Times, 29 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Bill Byrne says shooting allegations a 'smear campaign', Emma Clarke, The Morning Bulletin, 29 February 2016
  9. ↑ Minister backflips on army record disclosure, Thomas Chamberlin, The Courier Mail, 10 May 2016
  10. ↑ Jarrod Bleijie wears stuffed rat in jibe at Police Minister, Steven Wardill, The Courier Mail, 15 March 2016
  11. ↑ Why Jarrod Bleijie had a rat on his shoulder, Geoff Egan, Queensland Times, 16 March 2016
  12. ↑ Minister Byrne labels Category H weapon holders "lone cowboys", Sally Cripps, Queensland Country Life, 13 May 2016
  13. ↑ Stephen Bennett MP Media Release, 17 May 2016
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Robert Schwarten		 Member for Rockhampton
2012–present 		Incumbent
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