Qld Police sexism, racism cases: Ex-commissioner Bob Atkinson calls for rogue cops to be ‘dealt with appropriately’

The Premier has given her backing to the state’s Police Commissioner following a series of revelations of racism and sexism within the service, as she confirms when the commission of inquiry report into domestic violence will be made public.

A commission of inquiry report into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence will be made public on Monday, Annastacia Palaszczuk says, as she pledged her support for under-pressure Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had “started reading” the report, adding it had identified systemic issues which she believed Ms Carroll was the right person to address.

The inquiry heard evidence over five months of issues regarding racism, sexism and misogyny within the Queensland Police Service.

Just this week, a leaked recording from 2019 of watch house staff making racist remarks rocked the service, which Ms Carroll described as “abhorrent”.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had “absolute confidence” in the Police Commissioner – saying she was “the right person for the job”.

“She has only been in the job a relatively short time,” she said.

“I think the issues that are raised in the report are systemic over decades. And it is going to take someone with her leadership skills to be able to implement those reports.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says she’s “hoping to survive” in the role. Picture: Liam Kidston

Former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said he had been “deeply saddened” by the evidence.

Speaking at a press conference this morning about the state’s youth justice reforms, Mr Atkinson stressed the “vast, vast majority” of police were good people and those who aren’t should be “dealt with appropriately”.

He would not be drawn on the performance of current Commissioner Katarina Carroll, saying previous commissioners should not comment on those who took on the role after them.

“My position on that is this – that I’ve been gone for 10 years. My predecessor, Jim O’Sullivan, never commented on my performance as commissioner, regardless of what he might have thought,” Mr Atkinson said.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for former police commissioners to comment on the performance of the current commissioner of the time.

“There will be plenty of people who will be prepared to do that but it’s a personal view that I don’t think that I should be doing that.”

Former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Gosling

Mr Atkinson said he was the commissioner from 2000 to 2012 and that “from time to time” there were incidents of sexual harassment and racism within the service.

“I didn’t believe – maybe I was wrong – I didn’t believe that (it) was widespread,” he said.

“And I would hope that where it did occur in that time frame, that it was dealt with appropriately.

“I’ve been, I must say, deeply saddened to see the publicity in recent times associated with that and whilst I’ve been gone now from the role for 10 years, it’s still very much my belief though that the vast, vast majority of police are good people and the community can have confidence in them.

“And they will go to work every day and be prepared to put their safety on the line to protect the community.

“However, there’s clearly an issue there at the moment that needs to be dealt with.”

Mr Atkinson said anyone who worked through the Fitzgerald-era knew the importance of maintaining the integrity of the police service.

“People like myself … we saw two police departments,” he said.

“We saw pre-Fitzgerald and post-Fitzgerald. And those of us who were involved in the reforms and the changes post-Fitzgerald, would never want to see slippage occur.

“Not making any excuses, but I think there’s currently 15,000 police.

“So it’s probably the case that some, unfortunately, will not be suitable. I just think that’s going to be unavoidable

“What’s important is the organisational culture that does not accept that. And where it does exist, that it’s dealt with.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

After questions were raised about how long the government might sit on the report — after a recent report into youth justice laws was not released for eight months ­– the Premier said on Wednesday it would be released next week, following cabinet’s considerations.

“The Commission of Inquiry Report will be going to cabinet on Monday. I can now let Queenslanders know that report will be released on Monday, and there will be a government response on Monday,” she said.

“We are going to be looking at it very detailed, it will be discussed in cabinet on Monday. We are going to get it right and I want all my cabinet ministers to read it thoroughly.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she had “started reading the report”, but was “going to read the whole thing before I comment”.

A leaked recording of Brisbane Watchhouse staff laughing as they make racist slurs about “black fellas” has been described as “sickening” by Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler.

Asked whether he backed Ms Carroll in her current role, Police Minister Mark Ryan said “absolutely”.

“She is a reforming Commissioner – she is a Commissioner who has a strong track record of building good workplaces, supporting people and she is well respected by the people of Queensland,” he said.

“So of course I back Commissioner Caroll and I have every confidence that the reforms that will flow, from not only the Commission of Inquiry work but also the other report – the work done by Margaret McMurdo – that Katarina Carroll has the capacity and the commitment to deliver.”

Asked whether he would support the Commissioner regardless of the findings from the report, Mr Ryan said “I’m not going to get into the details of the report – I know Katarina Caroll, she is a reforming commissioner, she has the support of me and she has the support of the government.”