First Nations campaigner accuses Queensland government of ‘hypocrisy’ for voting down ‘raise the age’ bill

Queensland’s attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, says passing the bill would be ‘irresponsible’ ahead of a national approach to the ‘raise the age’ issue. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

An Indigenous campaigner has accused the Queensland government of “hypocrisy” for voting against a bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility on the same day that it committed to a “historic” treaty with First Nations people.

The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, told parliament on Tuesday the government would make a “historic leap towards reconciliation” and commit to signing a treaty with Indigenous people.