Minister asked to apologise over display of offensive FTP art

Pressure is mounting on Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch to apologise – including from within her own party – over the Gallery of Modern Art’s display of “FTP” artwork.

Labor MP Donald Brown has written to Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch, calling for an apology to the Queensland Police Service after the Police Union slammed the government’s decision to allow highly controversial FTP (F*** The Police) artwork to be displayed in the state-owned Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA).

The Queensland Police Union (QPU) yesterday took aim at the Premier and Minister the Arts for allowing GOMA to display the work they say demonises police and insights violence.

Pressure is mounting on the state government to apologise for inappropriate artwork displayed at Queensland’s state-funded art gallery, after artworks donning “FTP” were recently on show at the Gallery of Modern Art.

Artwork by TextaQueen with the controversial “FTP” slogan.

The work, named “Defund the Police Helmet 2020” caused significant dialogue between members of the QPU and the state government, after QPU President and CEO Ian Leavers wrote to the premier and Ms Enoch, calling for an apology and the immediate removal of the work- which donned the slogan FTP and a burning police car.

Following the request from the QPU, Mr Brown today asked Ms Enoch to apologise to the Queensland Police Service and requested the work be removed.

“This morning I have asked the Minister the Arts, Leeanne Enoch MP to please remove the offending helmet from GOMA and to offer an apology to QPS officers,” the Member for Capalaba wrote in a statement online.

“I understand artistic expression but now it is not the time to be cultivating divisions.”

Mr Brown referenced the recent tragedy his community felt and commended the hard work of the QPS in attending Australia Day’s heartbreaking scene, where Matty Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child were killed by a teen driver, allegedly under the influence of drugs and driving a stolen car.

Labor Capalaba MP Don Brown. Picture: Adam Armstrong

“On Australia Day I spoke with QPS officers at the scene and I appreciate the job they do at horrific scenes such as this.

“My community is hurting and I am asking for this gesture of unity from my Government.”

Police Union Vice President Shane Prior this morning supported Mr Brown for his statement.

“Great work from Don Brown MP,” he wrote.

“Now we need all the MPs and the Commissioner of Police too to be equally unequivocal in their full support for the QPU’s call to remove this display.

“Ask your MP if they support us as police too.

“I bet for some MPs the silence will be deafening.”

The Police Union yesterday said police were strong believers in free speech, however the decision to display the “deeply offensive helmet” in “a Queensland Government building paid for by police officers’ own taxpayer dollars,” was inappropriate.

“We simply think it is highly inappropriate for state government sanctioned exhibits to display, embrace and encourage imagery and displays inciting violence against police particularly among juveniles, and particularly at this current time in Queensland,” Mr Leavers stated in his letter to Ms Palaszczuk, Ms Enoch and police Minister Mark Ryan.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch has been asked by fellow MPs to apologise to the Queensland Police Service. Picture: David Clarke

Ms Enoch yesterday said she did not choose or reject artworks for display at GOMA, and praised police for the outstanding work they do in often difficult circumstances.

Former police officer and LNP Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie - who recently penned an opinion piece for The Courier-Mail on youth crime - said he had been inundated with calls from former colleagues who were outraged by the artwork on display at the Gallery of Modern Art.

“Given the state is in the midst of a youth crime epidemic, surely the Government is better off spending taxpayers money on better resourcing our police, not wasting it on tasteless and senseless art which questions their authority,” Mr Purdie said.

“Our police see this as yet another kick in the guts when they are already down.”

Mr Purdie said while he was supportive of free expression, the artwork was inappropriate.

“In the past week, we’ve heard the Government talk tough on crime and juvenile offenders, yet in the same breath they are funding art that mocks the role of our hardworking police who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” he said.

“We all know juvenile crime is a complex issue that requires a whole of government approach, and this latest blunder shows just how out of touch the Palaszczuk Government is.”