JPL needs to go: Minister

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington must sack John-Paul Langbroek, Minister for Racing Stirling Hinchliffe said today.

The Minister said Mr Langbroek had stooped to a new low when he used social media to share a cartoon comparing the COVID-19 pandemic to a “mild flu”.

The same cartoon labelled the global pandemic a “fear campaign”.

“John-Paul Langbroek is a medical professional,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“It beggars belief he would undermine his own profession by endorsing ridiculous, unscientific, far-right conspiracy theories.

“The Leader of the Opposition either shares these views or she doesn’t.

“If she doesn’t, she should sack him. If she does share these views, we know why the LNP called for borders to be open 64 times.

“The threat from coronavirus is real – so far 875,000 people have died from COVID-19 around the world.

“This is no laughing matter.”

Mr Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government continued to act on the expert medical advice of Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young.

“Science, knowledge, experience and common sense have all served us extremely well in Queensland since the pandemic broke out,” he said.

“Because we have had a strong, informed health response, we’ve already started delivering our plan for Queensland’s economic recovery,” the Minister said.

“The LNP would risk that by listening to far-right conspiracy theorists? By listening to misinformation and disinformation?

“More than that, they have endorsed the idea that a global pandemic is something to laugh at and belittle.”

Media: Bernadette Condren 0417 296 116