Parliament
Lawlor has been identified as being a Parliamentarian with a quick wit, his one liners have enlivened a number of parliamentary sessions.
Lawlor's first stouch in Parliament was with Opposition racing spokesman Howard Hobbs over an alleged forged document the opposition had tabled in parliament which was a draft letter from the Queensland Principal Club, Lawlor accused Hobbs of misleading the House by not checking the letter's authenticity. Soon after Lawlor named a Gold Coast man as the mastermind of an international scam purporting to supply humanitarian aid, promising investors returns of 10 to 40 per cent the scam duped Australians and New Zealanders of over $6 million.
In July 2002 Bob Quinn had an unusual advocate in Lawlor, who made an impassioned speech in Parliament in support of the Liberal Leader, Lawlor told the Parliament of a plan by 'branch stackers' in the Liberal Party to drive Mr Quinn out of politics. Mr Lawlor said that he had known Quinn for over 40 years and he was an honest and conscientious person. Allegations were raised of ethnic branch stacking on the Gold Coast within the Liberal Party using the federal Division of Fadden as an example where he alleged 50 Vietnamese had suddenly joined the Springwood business branch as pensioners or students, non of whom lived within the electoral division. The next week Peter Beattie followed suit and mocked the Liberal Leader in Parliament saying that he was his number one supporter.
In 2003 long term friend and fellow turf club icon Peter Gallagher (66) died after a six-month battle with cancer. Lawlor wept in State Parliament as Premier Beattie spoke about his achievements, Lawlor went on to give a long speech in honour of his close friend who he had known his whole life.
The Palm Island Select Committee was formed in April 2005 after a death in custody and riot on Palm Island was a bipartisan committee Chaired by Peter Lawlor. The Committee recommended;
- Appointment of a resource officer to liaise with government.
- Examine the need to appoint a financial controller for the Palm Island Council.
- Pursue transferring ownership of the Palm Island retail store from Government.
- Grant long-term leases to encourage home ownership.
- Address the housing shortage.
- Develop an education precinct.
- Establishing library services.
- Stage a career expo each year.
- Completion of infrastructure work relating to sea transport services.
- Carry out a suicide audit.
- Establishment of a community and cultural centre.
- Improve cultural awareness training for police.
- Establishment of a safe house for young people.
- Finalise an Alcohol Management Plan.
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Famous quotes containing the word parliament:
“At the ramparts on the cliff near the old Parliament House I counted twenty-four thirty-two-pounders in a row, pointed over the harbor, with their balls piled pyramid-wise between them,—there are said to be in all about one hundred and eighty guns mounted at Quebec,—all which were faithfully kept dusted by officials, in accordance with the motto, “In time of peace prepare for war”; but I saw no preparations for peace: she was plainly an uninvited guest.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“What is the historical function of Parliament in this country? It is to prevent the Government from governing.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Undershaft: Alcohol is a very necessary article. It heals the sick—Barbara: It does nothing of the sort. Undershaft: Well, it assists the doctor: that is perhaps a less questionable way of putting it. It makes life bearable to millions of people who could not endure their existence if they were quite sober. It enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)