Taxpayers slugged $16k a day for empty Queensland police building

A controversial $240m lease deal that the Queensland Police Service signed on an empty Stones Corner building is costing taxpayers up to $16,000 a day.

Building works on the new police hub at Stones Corner. Picture: Liam Kidston

Taxpayers are spending as much as $16,000 a day for an empty building at Stones Corner after the Queensland Police Service signed a controversial lease deal worth up to $240m.

The deal – costing every month about the same as five first-year constables’ annual wage – has plagued the service after senior police officers last year chose the location for a new mega complex in Brisbane’s south, for a 15-year lease.

There was an option for an eight-year extension in the deal worth up to $240m, which has been labelled as one of the worst lease agreements ever made by a department in the state government.

Building works have begun on the building. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Courier-Mail revealed the controversial deal and its details last year, including that developers only paid $45m for the building in 2021.

ATG Construction has been tasked with the new work on the empty building, which is understood to include new roofing and sheeting. Scaffolding has been erected around the building and workmen have been seen on rooftops this week.

But the QPS said it was not paying for the works.

The police service has been paying the controversial lease – understood to be as much as $500,000 a month – for the empty building since last year, amid investigations as to how the deal ever went ahead.

Commissioner Steve Gollschewski ordered an audit of the deal in August, with KordaMentha tasked to investigate after Mr Gollschewski said he had concerns about the cost and “governance”.

Then in November, Mr Gollschewski referred the deal to the Crime and Corruption Commission, for transparency purposes and because he was required to report anything where there was a “reasonable suspicion of misconduct or other corrupt activity”.

The building prior to works commencing. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The matter has remained there for months amid a probe into the mechanisms of the deal and people involved, which includes senior police.

Mr Gollschewski said he had also sought further legal advice about the deal, which would also consider commercial decisions, that could include further negotiations.

The QPS was asked about the works and its position on the lease, including if there had been any attempt to break the lease or buy the building.

“The QPS has not commenced any fit-out or other works,” a police spokeswoman said of the workers on site.

“The matter of the Stones Corner building lease has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) and it would be inappropriate to provide further comment