Police Union boss stands by his ‘woke’ comments, says sexism not rife

The head of the powerful Queensland Police Union has rejected claims that sexism and misogyny are “rife” within the police service, while lashing out at a former police commissioner and the media.

The inquiry into police responses to domestic violence has in the past few days uncovered evidence of shocking cases of sexual assault and harassment of female officers by male colleagues.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers. (File image)Credit: Toby Crockford

On Friday, QPU president Ian Leavers fronted the inquiry, where he criticised media reporting of evidence presented.

He also defended his comments regarding a past inquiry into the culture of the Queensland Police Service led by a retired female judge, which he described as “woke” and “pandering”.

“From what I have seen,” Leavers said on Friday, “and I don’t think it’s the intent of this inquiry, but a lot of men have been tarnished of being misogynist ... there has been a significant effect upon the membership that I represent.

“And I think it affects a lot of the women within the organisation as well because a lot of them have felt under siege, when, as I said, 98 per cent are just doing the best they possibly can.

“It has been reported in a very negative way. I know that I sat in on some sessions early, and I saw some of my members give evidence and the evidence that I observed was certainly wasn’t what was reported.”

Leavers said instances of sexism and misogyny were not “rife” within the QPS and “98 per cent” of employees were doing the right thing. He added that the culture had improved.

“I think going back to the ’80s and ’90s was a different world, and thankfully we are far more educated and a progressive society now,” he said.

“Do I think it still exists?

“Yes, I do believe in small pockets, but I do believe the vast majority of police are doing the right thing. And for every one incident that takes place, there are hundreds of positive stories.”

Leavers was asked about his critical comments earlier this year regarding a report from the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, led by retired Court of Appeal judge Margaret McMurdo.

In her report in March, McMurdo recommended a Commission of Inquiry to probe cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service.

“This is, yet again, another woke, out-of-touch report by a retired judge that overreaches where it pertains to police,” Leavers commented on McMurdo’s report.

On Friday Leavers dodged questions from counsel assisting Ruth O’Gorman about whether those comments were appropriate, before Commissioner Deborah Richards took him to task.

“What this inquiry is concerned about is that sometimes you use language that reinforces the views within the police service that aren’t helpful - by saying that things are ‘woke’. And the courts are ‘out of touch’,” she said.

Leavers responded that his intention was “never to degenerate women or any other person. I want to fix a broken system, which I hope gets fixed.”

Former police commissioner Ian Stewart, who retired in 2019 and was replaced by Carroll, also came under fire while Leavers was giving his evidence, again, using the word “woke”.

“I was very critical of the former police commissioner on his recruiting program where - and I use the word ‘woke’ and I go through what that is - my concern was back then the organisation wasn’t transparent, and they lowered the standards for women to join the job,” Leavers said.

“A lot of women say to me that they want to achieve on merit, and they don’t just want to be tokens.”

Leavers was the last scheduled witness and the inquiry adjourned indefinitely on Friday afternoon.