Coronavirus impact on police budget is unclear as Gold Coast cops say it won’t impact city

Keeping an army of police stationed at the border is coming at a huge cost – but top brass are adamant policing on the Gold Coast is not suffering. Here’s why.

POLICE have reshuffled budgets and resources to minimise costs associated with a 24-7 COVID-19 response but top brass are adamant it won’t affect Gold Coast operations.

Five months into the operation police are tight-lipped on details on budget and resourcing as the “operational environment is subject to constant changes”.

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Officers statewide including the bikie-busting Rapid Action Patrol squad have manned the border, airports and hotels since the pandemic response began in March.

Asked about what impact COVID-19 would have on the budget, boss Katarina Carroll recently said: “I’m extraordinarily comfortable about budgeting but also about resources into the future.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Lockdowns and “changes in behaviour” across the state enabled savings in reduced demands for service, particularly public order policing. Sections and training were also deferred helping ease the costs.

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The Bulletin recently highlighted a fraction of what it costs to patrol the border, revealing taxpayers shelled out $8565 for catered food deliveries to border staff for the first week of June, while 2000 hours of overtime were clocked up.

Police have also revealed the COVID-19 response will cause “additional rostering challenges” for the financial year.

But Ms Carroll and Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Gold Coast district would not be impacted by coronavirus. Funding for COVID-19’s response, coming from a “global budget”, is allocated separately to day-to-day district operations budgets, police confirmed.

Minister for Police and Corrective Services Mark Ryan speaking in parliament. Picture: Tara Croser.

“The QPS operates within budgetary constraints and prioritises funding accordingly to ensure service delivery,” a police spokesman said.

“Details around budget and resourcing is unable to be specifically quantified as the operational environment is subject to constant changes.

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“While the full impact of COVID-19 on the QPS budget is not yet known, the Service has re-prioritised funding and redeployed resources to minimise costs.”

The spokesman said there was budget for contingencies, including disaster events.

Police check cars at the Queensland border with NSW at Griffith Street in Coolangatta. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

Mr Ryan said: “While the total cost impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the budget cannot yet be determined as the response is still ongoing and evolving, I’m advised the Commissioner will continue to monitor all expenditure and make any submissions to government for further funds as required.

“I can assure the community that no expense will be spared when it comes to keeping the community safe.”