LNP’S shock cop attack
Accusation of failings on recruitment pledge
THE Opposition has sensationally accused Queensland Police of cancelling an upcoming recruitment drive due to lack of numbers, while also claiming the number of police has gone backwards.
Leader David Crisafulli on Wednesday morning accused the government of failing to live up to its promise of recruiting 1450 new police candidates – a promise made by the Palaszczuk government at the last election.
He said the LNP had conducted a new “budget analysis” which showed the real number of police had gone backwards.
“The government promised at the last election another 1450 police officers. We’re nearly half way – they have gone backwards by 12,” he said.
“We’ve spent the night reading and reflecting on a call for change, and in it there are some alarming statistics.”
LNP police spokesman Dale Last said he questioned how the police would find the hundreds of new officers recommended in the Commission of Inquiry into the QPS response to domestic violence released this week.
“We’re losing staff hand over fist every week – that should be ringing alarm bells. What’s particularly concerning for me is we’re losing those middle management, we’re losing those experienced officers out of the service who are just fed up because they’re not getting the leadership that they need.
“Today we’ve been contacted by senior police who have informed us that the upcoming police recruitment program at the Oxley academy, the next intake, has been cancelled, because of lack of numbers. And that should be ringing alarm bells right across this state.
“Mark Ryan has been the Police Minister in this state for six years. With that role comes enormous responsibility. When police attrition is outstripping recruitment then we have a real problem.”
Mr Crisafulli also took a swipe at Health Minister Yvette D’ath’s decision to sack the board of the Mackay Base Hospital the same day as the release of a Commission of Inquiry report into QPS responses to domestic violence.
“They have learnt nothing from (Professor) Coaldrake – absolutely nothing,” he said, referencing Prof Coaldrake’s integrity inquiry released earlier this year.
“It is all about political survival. The failings in Mackay have to have accountability at every level, and without that
accountability being the Minister is it any wonder why brave victims have come forward today and said enough is enough.”