Qld election 2024: Labor candidate’s past anti-police posts

Labor’s candidate in a marginal seat has been forced to apologise after her old social media posts criticising police emerged.

Labor’s candidate in the marginal seat of Burleigh has been forced to apologise after her old social media posts criticising police emerged.

Claire Carlin wrote online in 2011 “f*** tha police!” and in 2010 wrote “on the count of three say … f*** the police 1. 2. 3.”

It came after an earlier post in 2009 saying “we don’t like the police”.

Ms Carlin, who is running in the seat of Burleigh currently held by the LNP’s Michael Hart with a 1.2 per cent margin, was confronted by a 9 News reporter about her since-deleted anti-police statements on Monday.

“I’m actually just about to go somewhere and I’m not able to talk, sorry,” she first responded.

Asked if she would support the police if elected, she said: “Of course I support the Queensland police.”

The candidate's historical posts on X. Picture: 9 News Queensland

When asked again to comment on the posts, she told the reporter: “I’m not aware of what you’re talking about, at the moment I’m just about to go and see my mum if that’s OK.”

She later issued a written statement.

“I apologise for these tweets – they are up to 14 years old and in no way reflect my current views,” Ms Carlin said.

“I have close friends who are serving police officers and the work they and their colleagues do everyday to keep us safe is so important.

“In the many years since then, I have worked hard in my community including helping to deliver major events side by side with our local police.”

Ms Carlin said the state Labor government “has and continues to boost police personnel and resources, something I’m proud to support”.

Labor candidate for Burleigh Claire Carlin is interviewed over the posts. Picture: 9 News Queensland