A COLLEAGUE and friend of Glen Turner, who was gunned down this week, said he is struggling to comprehend the purported reasoning which has been projected into the public arena by politicians.
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Adam Downey, who worked in the same field alongside Mr Turner for another government organisation, expressed great concern over comments by Moree mayor Katrina Humphries that she feared the land-clearing issue would erupt in violence, and from Barwon MP Kevin Humphries who noted the “protracted” nature of the case in question had “got very personal.”
“I agree it did become personal when one man allegedly took the life of another unarmed man,” he said, adding his opinions were purely personal.
“Ultimately, this incident has affected three families, or three circles – Glen Turner’s, Mr Turnbull’s and the other OEH officer there at the time.”
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge told media yesterday right-wing members were willing to exploit the tragic death of a worker to attack the laws.
“If a parking ranger had been killed enforcing an unpopular parking law, or a police officer had been killed enforcing an unpopular speeding law, we would never tolerate this kind of discussion,” he said.
Mr Downey said, based on “user feedback”, Mr Turner was the “best and most professional, fair, empathetic and discretionary of compliance officers”.
“Glen was never the type to flaunt or abuse his professional authority, but rather the opposite,” he said.
“Glen once told me that his priority was to work towards some level of amicable result wherever possible ... Glen was not one to ‘go looking’ for a prosecution.”