Thanks for tuning in! For further state political updates, be sure to check The Courier-Mail's website throughout the day.
Commission of inquiry to probe police response to domestic violence
A commission of inquiry will probe whether there are cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service and the capability of officers to respond to domestic violence.
A commission of inquiry will probe whether there are cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service and the capability of officers to respond to domestic violence.
It will also look at the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system and the adequacy of the current conduct and complaints handling processes against officers.
Police have accepted the inquiry which was announced on Tuesday as part of historic reforms that will address women's safety in Queensland.
Judge Deborah Richards will head the inquiry that will begin on May 30.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acknowledged the dedicated work of the state's police officers.
“However, the issues raised by survivors with the Taskforce require further investigation to ensure all women feel confident they’re being listened to," she said.
The Premier on Tuesday accepted all 89 recommendations of Justice Margaret McMurdo's first report of the Queensland Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce, revealing a $363 million package that will also criminalise coercive control.
The inquiry will also examine the adequacy of the current conduct and complaints handling processes against officers to ensure community confidence in the police service.
Judge Richards will be supported by Counsel Assisting Pat McCafferty QC to conduct the inquiry.Judge Richards is the President of the Children's Court of Queensland and a Judge of the District Court.
Judge Richards also served as a member of the Taskforce on Women in the Criminal Code in 1998.
More than $3 million has been allocated to the inquiry which is expected to take four months.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has pledged her support in a social media post.
The Commissioner, who The Courier-Mail understands was overseas at a conference at the time the inquiry was announced yesterday, published the post last night.
She also paid tribute to the tireless advocacy of Sue and Lloyd Clarke, whose daughter Hannah and grandchildren Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey were murdered in one of Queensland’s most horrific incidents of domestic violence.
“The QPS welcomes the $363 million investment by the Queensland Government to better protect victims of domestic and family violence,” she wrote.
“The announcement, which includes new coercive control laws and education for young people, will have a huge impact on domestic and family violence in Queensland.
“The QPS will fully support the Commission of Inquiry and looks forward to sharing the many initiatives being implemented by our Service, as well as the dedicated work of our police.
“We also welcome any opportunity to improve processes and how we respond to these incidents.”
Ms Carroll said everyone had a responsibility to stop domestic violence.
“I would like to acknowledge Sue and Lloyd Clarke, who through their advocacy work in Small Steps 4 Hannah have raised much needed awareness around coercive control,” she finished.
The Commissioner is understood to be at an international conference with another high ranking officer.
Updates
Question Time has finished for today
Mander: new social housing bedrooms lowest in Premier's electorate
Opposition frontbencher Tim Mander said since 2018, the Premier's electorate of Inala had seen the fewest number of new social housing bedrooms in Queensland.
He asked Annastacia Palaszczuk to explain what mattered to her more – "red carpets and photo opps" or putting a roof over the heads of vulnerable Queenslanders.
The Premier said she found Mr Mander's comments offensive and asked that he withdraw.
She said Mr Mander had wanted to close a school in his electorate.
"There has been substantial community renewal in Inala over many years," she said, before saying that she was pleased with this renewal.
"The Premier's happy with it going backwards?" someone in the Opposition yelled out.
Ms Palaszczuk hit back, saying it was set up as a social housing suburb many years ago.
She then said, "You're a disgrace" before withdrawing.
– Domanii Cameron
Will there be funding for alcohol-fueled violence?
Noosa MP Sandy Bolton has asked Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman if there would be funding in the upcoming Budget to address alcohol-fueled violence in areas not designated a safe night precinct.
Ms Fentiman said the government had already implemented a range of measures aimed at reducing alcohol-fueled violence.
She said her department was working with the Noosa Council about making the region a safe night precinct.
And she said she was happy to work with Ms Bolton to look at other preventative measures should the Noosa Council choose not to become a safe night precinct.
– Jack McKay
“We have a problem with men’s violence against women and that’s what we’ve got to tackle"
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has asked the Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman if the government will ensure that gender equality is applied to the implementation of the 89 Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce recommendations
Ms Fentiman said that while the government acknowledged that men can also be victims of domestic and family violence, particularly young men and boys, the statistics were "overwhelmingly clear" in that the number of female victims outweighed male victims.
Ms Fentiman assured Mr Dametto that high-risk teams and co-responder models would be available to all domestic violence victims, regardless of gender, but said that “a gendered lens” must be used to eliminate domestic violence.
“We know that domestic and family violence are inextricably linked to gender inequality. That is why we need to work with young men on their attitudes and behaviours that underpin the cycle of violence,” she said.
“We have a problem with men’s violence against women and that’s what we’ve got to tackle.”
– Taylah Fellows
Bates: What are you doing about ramping?
Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates has asked Health Minister Yvette D'Ath what she was going to do about the state's ambulance ramping.
Ms D'Ath took aim at the Opposition, saying the Palaszczuk government had hired thousands of frontline health workers.
She also slammed the Commonwealth and the Opposition which she accused of not supporting the public health system.
– Domanii Cameron
Krause questions social media posts
Opposition backbencher Jon Krause has asked Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni why his office was vetting social media posts and why it delayed a website launch for months.
Mr de Brenni denied that his office was involved in operational matters and that the new website, which will "improve experiences for licensees and homeowners," received formal approval from his office on April 6.
"I'm advised that the technical elements will be largely completed by December 21," he said.
The Minister said the website launch was considerably delayed during the Christmas holiday period due to the Omicron wave.
– Taylah Fellows
"Plausible deniability"
Referring to Professor Peter Coaldrake's interim report, Opposition frontbencher John-Paul Langbroek asked the Premier if she had spoken to her ministers to find out who had asked for reports not to reach them to maintain plausible deniability.
Prof Coaldrake's interim report actually alleges it was a senior public servant who took steps to prevent a report from reaching the ears of a Minister to ensure the Minister could "continue to plausibly deny knowledge of the matter".
The report does not suggest a Minister or their office directly asked for a report not to reach them so they could deny knowledge of the matter.
In response to Mr Langbroek's question, Annastacia Palaszczuk said she expected the public service to provide frank and fearless advice.
She said it was her expectation that there was a free flow of information from the public service to Ministers.
– Jack McKay
Premier: We are waiting for final interim report
Opposition frontbencher Fiona Simpson has also referred to Professor Peter Coaldrake's interim report.
She asked the Premier to detail which reports "were allegedly sanitised or had their recommendations altered to appease a Minister's position."
Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was an interim report and that her government looked forward to reading the final report.
– Domanii Cameron
Integrity grilling continues
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie has asked the Premier why she is not acknowledging the Integrity Commissioner's call for a royal commission into the government.
Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed she would be looking carefully into the recommendations of Professor Peter Coaldrake's review, prompting a fiery response from Mr Bleijie, who asked Ms Palaszczuk why she listens to "her handpicked reviewer" over the Integrity Commissioner.
"Does the Premier respect the Integrity Commissioner as much as she respects Coaldrake?" Mr Bleijie said.
The Premier said the Opposition has no right to ask about integrity because "you have none."
"No one will forget your appointment of Chief of Justice," she said.
-Taylah Fellows
Crisafulli: What's stopping government from calling a Royal Commission?
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has kicked off his second question to the Premier by suggesting Professor Peter Coaldrake's interim report into the public service highlighted many cases of poor accountability and culture.
He asked Annastacia Palaszczuk what was stopping her from calling a Royal Commission into her government – something the LNP has repeatedly urged her to do.
Ms Palaszczuk did not directly answer the question, but said the government was still awaiting the final report from Prof Coaldrake.
The Premier has previously suggested she would accept all of Prof Coaldrake's recommendations, even if he suggested a Royal Commission.
She used the opportunity to try to attack the former LNP government, saying she would be happy to get Prof Coaldrake to look into the Newman years.
– Jack McKay
Join the conversation
‘Patients may have lived longer’: Shocking substandard care exposed at hospital
A four-year investigation has exposed shocking levels of substandard care at a Queensland hospital with the life expectancy of at least 12 patients potentially impacted.
Read more
Toddler’s explosive potty-mouth rant leaves mum speechless
A mum could barely keep a straight face after her one-year-old discovered he had an impressive talent for cussing.
Read more