FLORI: WHY I WANT TO BE AN MP
POLICE whistleblower Rick Flori says his unhappiness with alleged nepotism within the Queensland Police Service and a lack of transparency in government has prompted him to run for state parliament in the upcoming election.
WHISTLEBLOWER Rick Flori says a desire to tackle the alleged nepotism and lack of transparency in Gold Coast police was the key driver in his decision to stand for state parliament in the upcoming election.
Mr Flori, who plans to run as an independent in the Southport division, also said he believes recent allegations of wrongdoing among senior officers are only the tip of the iceberg.
The former Surfers Paradise cop said a report by the Auditor General made in April revealing Coast cops were fudging crime figures as well as allegations of perjury against Superintendent Michelle Stenner regarding the appointment of colleague Chief Superintendent Terry Borland’s daughter to a job with police were not isolated incidents.
While not speaking specifically about Supt Stenner, Mr Flori claimed: “Nepotism and cronyism have been going on for a long time.
“It would be interesting if they ever really opened up to the triple-C saying what did go on or what does go on there’s a lot … that the general public wouldn’t be aware of.”
Mr Borland is not accused of wrongdoing, and has not been charged.
Mr Flori is in the middle of a lengthy court battle with the Queensland Police Service
after he was charged with misconduct in public office.
He is accused of leaking footage to the media of police officers bashing handcuffed chef Noa Begic in 2012.
Flori said one of his core policies will be a demand for transparency in government departments.
“I don’t think it’s a hard thing. Being open and transparent in government is very important,” he said.
“I don’t see why it should be so resistant.
“An independent (politician) can make his or her own mind up and take on board what their constituents want.
“My life has been gone through with a fine-tooth comb ... there is not one thing that could ever come out that I have done wrong.
“It’s as though I was built for this (politics) and I didn’t know it.”
The would-be politician also took aim at sitting Southport MP Rob Molhoek, claiming he didn’t even know the elected official’s name before deciding to run for parliament.
“I had to see who was the member for the Southport division because he was of no notoriety to me – I didn’t actually know that he’d done anything for me,” he said in a video posted to Facebook on the weekend.
Mr Molhoek defended himself, saying he has been an outspoken advocate for Southport, particularly in his hard-line stance against crime.
“I’ve taken a strong stand on law and order issues both as a councillor and as a state member so much so that on one occasion Jim Keogh called me into his office and expressed grave concerns about my personal safety and that of my family back when I ran for Mayor,” Mr Molhoek said.
“When we took on the criminal gangs, I had increased police protection at my office and at any civic events I attended ... as Assistant Minister for Planning and Development.
“While I certainly don’t have his (Flori’s) coalface experience as a police officer, I certainly have very strong views around the need for government to remain firm in dealing with criminal activity.
“If re-elected it will continue to be a high priority for me.”