Games, ice and DV pitch

GAMES security, beating the ice scourge and more court resources for the fight against domestic violence are the key Gold Coast police funding initiatives in the State Budget.

The Budget papers do not refer to the bikie menace or include a breakdown of officer numbers for 2017-18.

Labor’s policing sale pitch is clearly about making next year’s Commonwealth Games a safe family event.

The Government will provide $32.3 million to policing across four years from 2017-18, and $8.9 million each year for an additional 30 counter-terrorism and 20 police officers for “priority areas”.

More than $11 million had been “internally reprioritised” by the department to provide 20 extra police for the Townsville Rapid Action and Patrols Group.

An increased $8.5 million over four years will be given to the specialist domestic violence courts, including Southport. About $2.5 million is allocated for extra prosecution staff and to help roll out similar operations in Beenleigh and Townsville. Almost $70 million will be spent on prevention of domestic violence, covering courts, shelters, housing and specialist support services.

In a crackdown on the ice epidemic, the Government will spend $972,000 on roadside drug testing as part of a fouryear package topping $4 million.

Mr Pitt said it was clear “our determination to confront and deal with the ice epidemic cannot waiver”.