Police Union boss Ian Leavers slammed over stunning Treaty spray

Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled comments by Police Union President Ian Leavers on Treaty and truth telling as ‘divisive and unhelpful’ but another Qld MP says the union boss should not have to censor his comments.

• Leavers: Woke obsession must stop
• What you said: War of words erupts

Queensland’s Police Union President has attracted strong criticism for what is being called an “ignorant and factually wrong diatribe” in which he demanded the government rip up its plans for treaty and truth telling, claiming it could lead to First Nations people getting a free pass to commit crime.

In an extraordinary attack, powerful union boss Ian Leavers argues the state government’s Truth and Treaty body was nothing more than a feel-good attempt to divide the state.

He claimed the body – legislated with bipartisan support by the government and opposition in May – would skew the justice system to favour First Nations people.

“For police, the most concerning aspect of all of this ‘truth telling’ is the notion that people could have an unfiltered ability to ‘share their truth on their terms’,” he said.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers

“In this woke world there may be the concept of sharing your own truth, however in the world of policing, truth is not subjective. It is objective. Either something is the truth or it is not.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey was the first to react, issuing a stinging rebuke of Mr Leavers, saying his “ignorant and factually wrong diatribe is an embarrassment to the Qld Police Union”.

“He should be working on rectifying the identified racism, misogyny & sexism in the force to make it an inclusive and lawful workplace,” Mr Bailey said.

“Leavers’ confected sledge that acknowledging our full history somehow isn’t truthful needs to be called out for how disingenuous it is.

“His vile allegation that it will cause more crime or mean lighter sentences is a lie … not backed up by any evidence whatsoever.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed her minister, saying Mr Leavers’ comments were “divisive and unhelpful”.

“Let me say I disagree with the comments the QPU president has said,” the Premier said.

“We want to make sure we do go down the path of reconciliation. The minister is not anti-police.”

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek interjected, declaring Mr Bailey “hates police”.

It prompted a heartfelt interjection from Mr Bailey, who declared the comment “deeply offensive and I ask they be withdrawn”.

As president of the Queensland Police Union Mr Leavers advocates on behalf of the service’s 17,000 officers and staff on industrial, legal, social and political issues.

“All police I have spoken to are very worried that the inner-city latte sippers have grabbed control of the law and order agenda and now wish to further attack police and water down laws as they affect First Nations offenders through the Truth and Treaty Body,” he said.

Mr Leavers acknowledged people would “whip themselves into a frenzy” over his comments.

“But the facts are clear, the latest data from Queensland Corrective Services confirms young Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders have committed more serious crimes than any other group in custody,” he said.

“For men under the age of 24 the prison population of First Nations people is nearly 50 per cent higher than that of non-Indigenous. For females under 24 it’s 33 per cent …

On Wednesday afternoon, crossbench MP Robbie Katter threw his support behind Mr Leavers, saying he and his other MPs from north Queensland censored their views on approaching crime in Indigenous communities when addressing parliament, fearing backlash from the media and inner-city MPs.

Mr Katter said neither he nor the police union boss lacked compassion.

“Yes, it is a problem, but let’s not muck about because in Mount Isa it’s 99.9 per cent an Indigenous problem and it is a difficult area for police and other authorities,” the KAP leader said.

“And it becomes all the more messy when you introduce those cultural elements that are sometimes highly subjective.”

Mr Katter said he and his party colleagues were sometimes criticised for having a “lack of compassion and empathy” for lobbying for tougher approaches to address what he described as a “nightmare of youth crime” in North Queensland.

“There’s these ideological pursuits that always are coming from the city that keep encroaching on the way we’re trying to manage things and people are sick of it,” Mr Katter said.

“And quite frankly a lot of the first Australians we deal with are sick of it as well.

“A lot of people are scared to speak their mind when it comes to Aboriginal issues unless they’re labelled as racist or bigoted.

“And we all fear that – we come down here to do speeches and we hold back on saying things.

“I think the pendulum has swung too far and, perhaps it did some good, but it’s swung way too far now where we’re afraid to say the things that might help all of us go forward.”

The KAP leader said the incarceration rates of First Nations people was “terrible” but he said “that’s not because the police are targeting them”.

“We’ve got to fix those problems in the community but I don’t think the problem lies with the police, it lies with how we’re trying to repair those communities at the source of the problem,” Mr Katter said.

A damaging commission of inquiry last year exposed evidence of racism, sexism and misogyny within the Queensland Police Service.

Last month it revealed the Human Rights Commission would lead an independent review focusing on the treatment and experiences of female and First Nations officers.

Ian Leavers said people within Indigenous communities had begged him to help control youth crime.

The union boss said elders in Indigenous communities he had travelled to “begged me to do something about the huge amount of youth crime perpetrated by their own Indigenous youth”.

“While certain sectors of society who inhabit the inner-city enclaves of Bardon, Paddington, Hamilton, Bulimba, St Lucia and West End would have you believe that society is the blame for the heinous crime committed by these youth criminals, these communities’ own elders know the real truth and so do I,” he said.

“As I said to these elders who looked to the police and me for help, sadly our hands are tied by the courts who continue to partake in “revolving door” sentencing.

“When these First Nations youth criminals are locked up, the elders told me in nearly every case crime in their community reduces “almost to zero”, however the moment they are released, their peaceful existence becomes “hell on earth” again.”

Mr Leavers labelled recommendations from Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission as “kooky”, claiming it “suggests allowing every First Nations criminal to be given immediate bail for everything except murder and terrorism”.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during question time at Parliament House.

“They are effectively offering a free pass to every rapist, domestic violence abuser, habitual home invader and car thief who tells police they identify as Aboriginal,” he said.

The commission heard “systemic injustice” against First Nations people and made 46 recommendations for change.

Mr Leavers also argued the “the place known as Brisbane since 1834 will be no more and the capital of Queensland would become Meanjin”.

“Queensland itself could be renamed,” he said.

That rumour was rejected in June by Resources Minister Scott Stewart, who said the “government has no plans – whatsoever – to change the name of Brisbane”.

Queensland Council of Social Services chief executive Aimee McVeigh said First Nations-led organisations were calling for the “disgraceful” comments to be called out by the Queensland Police Commissioner.

Change the Record National Director Maggie Munn said Mr Leavers was playing with people’s lives.

“As a proud Gunggari person, I appeal to every Queenslander to see Ian Leavers’ comments for what they really are: a despicable power grab which divides and terrorises our communities.

“Less than six months ago there was bipartisan support for pathways to treaties, and now First Nations rights are up for a power grab,” she said.

“It’s clear to me that Ian is playing politics with people’s lives, our children’s lives – it’s a sad day when the pursuit of justice can become so politicised.”

Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said Mr Leavers comments would divert energy from work to close the gap.

“In the aftermath of a referendum debate which exposed Queensland’s First Nations communities to harmful levels of racist discourse, it is reprehensible to create further harm with such divisive and inflammatory language,” he said.

Any movement toward progressive change generates backlash and the Police Union President’s comments reported today must be seen for what they are: part of a backlash against Queensland taking steps towards treaty.”

Questions to Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll were answered by a police spokesman, who said the service was “committed to reconciliation and is involved in path to treaty, and is preparing to take part in the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry”.

The spokesman did not comment on Mr Leavers’ comments.