Annastacia Palaszczuk backs Qld Police Commissioner’s call for no-confidence powers

The Queensland Police Union has taken issue with the Premier’s support for no-confidence powers enabling the commissioner to dismiss dodgy cops.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has backed the Police Commissioner’s calls for powers to sack cops not fit for the job.

Ms Palaszczuk also expressed disgust over revelations female Queensland police recruits were being referred to as “fresh meat” and were being pulled aside into women-only training sessions to warn them about their male peers.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, appearing before the Commission of Inquiry Into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic Violence in the first week of September, agreed the system used to discipline officers — known as local managerial guidance — was broken.

She said many of her officers were inappropriately dealt with in this manner and that she needed no-confidence powers allowing her to dismiss police not fit for the job.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll (front) and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

These are powers that would need to be legislated.

Ms Palaszczuk was on Thursday asked if Ms Carroll had approached her about legislating no-confidence powers and if she supported the move.

“(Ms Carroll) hasn’t spoken to me directly about it but I have heard those comments, and yes I will,” she said.

But this would not happen until the inquiry had concluded.

Ms Palaszczuk said revelations female Queensland police recruits were being referred to as “fresh meat” made her feel disgusted.

She said she hoped this didn’t discourage women to join the service.

“I know that the Police Commissioner herself has been very committed to encouraging women to actually join us and they should not be discouraged,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I am confident that she will enact whatever recommendations come out of this inquiry, and we have to let this inquiry run its course.”

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said police were against the no-confidence powers.

“The QPU and all police in Queensland do not support any proposal that would reduce a police officer’s industrial rights by such schemes as loss of confidence powers,” he said.

“These schemes have failed in every other state in Australia where they have been introduced, and by giving one person extraordinary powers to arbitrarily dismiss police has only increased corruption risks.”