Sparks fly between Labor and LNP leaders over Kirwan police project
Police Minister Mark Ryan has fired back at the LNP’s latest criticisms of the Kirwan Police Complex, accusing them of having a ‘secret plan’ to close things down. See their response.
Townsville
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Police Minister Mark Ryan has fired back at the LNP’s latest criticisms of the Kirwan Police Complex, accusing them of having a ‘secret plan’ to close things down.
The Opposition has been demanding answers from the Miles Government regarding the project following recent revelations of a cost blowout.
The first stage of works at the former 1300Smiles site is now expected to cost $45m —$15m more than it was initially earmarked for.
Thuringowa LNP candidate Natalie Marr said she had spoken to residents who think the construction site has become an eye saw and they want to know what’s happening with it.
“We have nothing but a vacant block of land that is overgrown, unruly and unsightly, across from their homes,” she said.
A visibly frustrated Minister Ryan accused the LNP of “not backing” the project at a press conference on Tuesday.
“This is a massive project for Townsville — it’s needed,” he said.
“Not only will it deliver a huge new police station for Kirwan but also it lays the foundation for a new police academy.
“If they don’t back it in, it means they don’t support a new police academy for Townsville.
“Now, that should be unsurprising for anyone who has a memory about their record because the LNP has never supported a police academy in Townsville.
“At the last election, they didn’t support it, and when they were last in government, they had a secret plan to close it down and sell it off.”
Shadow Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber responded to his remarks, describing it as a “load of rubbish.
She reiterated that the LNP was “100 per cent” in support of police getting more facilities, resources, and boots on the ground.
“Are you kidding me?” she said. “There’s no facility here yet.”
“For them to be caught trying to ask, does the LNP support it? How about they actually deliver something on time and on budget for a change?”
Minister Ryan denied there had been a holdup with the Kirwan project, insisting that construction work at the site should be underway within “the next month or so.”
“The site’s secured, the tender has been awarded, and the contractor now has control of the site, so construction will be underway very soon,” he said.
He said phase one of the project is still on schedule to be completed in 2025.
Originally published as Sparks fly between Labor and LNP leaders over Kirwan police project
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