COMMUNITY DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT’S IN REPORT

IT MUST be asked once again, what has the state government got to hide when it comes to the review into the Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group (TSCAG). While they’ve released some information on the reforms that have stemmed from the review, there is still little to no information about the report.

In a statement from Police Minister Mark Ryan, it states: “In the interests of openness and transparency, the government is sharing the reforms that flow from the report.”

Well, if the government was interested in openness and transparency it would release the report, which from all accounts was damning of the group that hadn’t been reviewed in over five years and had no key performance indicators.

Burdekin MP and opposition spokesman for police Dale Last naturally lambasted the handling of TSCAG and the lack of transparency.

“I’ve been calling for the minister to release the review for months,” Mr Last told the Bulletin.

“What is he hiding?

“The community deserves to know what’s in the report.”

And he is right,

What is he hiding?

the community deserves to know what’s in the report.

They need to have faith that the money being spent in Townsville for policing is not being wasted on pipe dreams.

Crime, specifically youth crime, is the No.1 issue in the city.

Naturally, everyone who lives here has a vested interest in what is being done to solve the problem.

As this paper has said all along, the idea behind TSCAG is right – information sharing among all government agencies can only lead to better outcomes for families and young criminals.

But somewhere along the way the wind has been taken out of the sails.

And while the addition of Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler to the group may be able to right the ship, unless the organisations can agree to all sail in the same direction, we fear TSCAG will go the way of the Titanic.