New Premier David Crisafulli’s message to frontline police

Premier David Crisafulli says “mistakes that were made last term” won’t stop him from getting the Queensland Police Service firing on all cylinders.

New Qld Premier and LNP leader, David Crisafulli, has addressed issues in the QPS in his first days in the role. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

New Premier David Crisafulli is asking police officers to “hang in there,” as he ramps up efforts to improve attrition rates and support for the frontline who will be tasked with delivering his crime plan.

Answers will also be sought over the former government’s handling of a $240m contract for a new station at Stone’s Corner which whistleblower officers expected to be paid for through operational budget cuts.

Mr Crisafulli on Tuesday assured the botched contract, which was signed onto before funding was secured, would not impact frontline officers.

“There cannot be reductions to the frontline because of mistakes that were made last term,” he said.

“As to the deal that was signed - which that relates to - there’s going to be some big questions asked about that, I can assure you.

New Queensland Premier and LNP leader David Crisafulli is backing police. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“They (officers) shouldn’t be penalised because of a bad deal that was signed up to.”

The government has committed to recruiting 1600 new officers by 2028, but Mr Crisafulli says the state is already at least 1150 officers short.

“We believe we will deliver that (1600 officers) … in fact, we will exceed that,” he said.

The latest QPS annual report revealed its attrition rate for permanent staff in 2023/24 was 10.6 per cent.

For police officers specifically the attrition rate was 5.3 per cent, equating to about 1822 permanent staff leaving the QPS.

Tackling the Youth Crime Crisis is a top priority - and we can only do it by listening to and supporting our police.

This week I've met with the @QldPolice Commissioner Steve Gollschewski, Police Union President @ShanePriorQPUE and QPCOU President Kerry Johnson. pic.twitter.com/DV4WjMmX79

— David Crisafulli (@DavidCrisafulli) October 29, 2024

The Premier promised police would be offered more mental health and legislative support through his crime laws.

“One of the things that I’m tasking the Police Minister, once appointed, with is to spend a lot of time doing exactly this, going to police stations across the state and just saying to frontline staff to please hang in there,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli spent his second day in the job meeting with Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and will later today sit down with police union heads.

Qld Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski.

He reaffirmed his commitment to legislate the community safety laws, which will see detention as a last resort removed and children who commit serious crimes sentenced as adults, will be in place by Christmas.

“We have to find ways to make police feel like they are part of the solution and feel valued again,” he said.

“But above all its laws.”

Mr Crisafulli said he expects to secure 53 or 54 seats by the time the vote count concludes.

The LNP, as of midday Tuesday, held 49 seats and were ahead in Mulgrave, Aspley and Pumicestone with a chance to also take Pine Rivers, Gaven and Mirani depending on postal votes.

The Premier commended Pumicestone candidate Ariana Doolan for overcoming a Labor union-led scare campaign attacking her age and living arrangements with the 22-year-old now looking to defeat former assistant health minister Ali King.

“Ariana represents everything that young people should, and that is that you shouldn’t be pigeon holed because of your age, she’s a bright star of the future,” he said.

“The vitriol and the nastiness that was endorsed against her should never be allowed into the future and her thumping win means that it will be confined to the dustbin of public political history forever.”