Burnett MP Stephen Bennett backs campaign for District Duty Officers in Bundaberg

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett says the Wide Bay is in urgent need of District Duty Officers, with Bundaberg police having to consult senior officers as far away as Mackay. Read why he has added his voice to the campaign to bring them here.

MP Stephen Bennett has thrown his support behind the need for District Duty Officers in the regions.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett has thrown his support behind a campaign for District Duty Officers in the Wide Bay region, saying Bundaberg officers are having to reach out to Mackay police for advice.

The campaign to bring District Duty Officers to the region, spearheaded by the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Bundaberg NewsMail, has begun in the aftermath of an inquest investigating the death of a young father in Maryborough in late October, 2022.

The inquest at Hervey Bay Courthouse delved into the moment William George Grimes, 31, was tasered after he doused himself with fuel on March 3, 2020, at Granville State School.

The inquest heard from experts who were unable to determine if it was the lighter in Mr Grimes’ hand or the taser used by police that ignited the flames that caused burns to 70 per cent of Mr Grimes’ body.

Mr Grimes died of his injuries a week later in hospital in Brisbane.

During the inquest, the role of District Duty Officers was raised repeatedly.

Mr Bennett said police were having to go much further afield for expert advice than they should have to.

“I’ve heard overwhelming support from our local police for District Duty Officers who are needed to fill a sorely needed gap,” he said.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett has added his voice to the call for District Duty Officers in the Wide Bay.

“Currently Bundaberg police contact the District Duty Officers in Mackay to get information and advice.

“They’re over 600 kilometres away and are already stretched to the limit.

“It’s a complete slap in the face for our hardworking officers.”

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, a former Wide Bay police officer, also threw his weight behind the campaign, saying senior officers were an important human resource.

“Usually, when police are called to an incident, it’s because all else has failed,” he said.

“And when this happens, our police need every available resource to ensure the job is performed effectively, which means ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

“Often incidents are larger in scale or more complex in nature, and having a senior officer dedicated to the co-ordination role not only provides an extra level of experience but allow those officers performing the more practical tasks associated with the response to get on with the job in a more timely manner.

“Regions like ours have challenges that more urban areas don’t.

“We have greater distances between services and deadlier roads.”

Comment was sought from Bundaberg MP Tom Smith’s office, but was not received by time of publication.