Katarina Carroll caretaker replacement Steve Gollschewski puts hand up for the role on permanent basis
The man appointed to be Queensland’s acting police commissioner following Katarina Carroll’s resignation says he is not going into the role “just as a caretaker”.
QLD News
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The man chosen as the state’s acting police commissioner says he will be fast-acting and hands-on in the role, admitting there are “personality differences” between himself and predecessor Katarina Carroll.
Steve Gollschewski will take on the role of acting commissioner on March 2 after the sudden resignation of Katarina Carroll, and on Friday announced he will apply for the permanent position.
He said there were personality differences between him and Ms Carroll that would result in a different leadership style.
“She is different,” Mr Gollschewski said.
“I am probably someone that wants to see action really quickly. She did too. But she had her way and her way to do it. Katarina is incredibly consultative, incredibly caring. She made time for people. I’m probably going to be a really a hands-on commissioner. So getting that balance right between doing the engagement stuff and giving and doing the actual work. I feel like that might change a bit. So there’ll be some changes.
“And of course, it’s just the personality differences. I’m an old guy and she’s a younger lady,” he joked.
Mr Gollschewski was a deputy commissioner in the service before he was appointed special co-ordinator for police reform in November 2022, following the commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence.
He said he wanted to make it clear he was “not just going in as a caretaker” by accepting the acting commissioner role and confirmed he would apply for the permanent position.
Mr Gollschewski paid tribute to Ms Carroll, who he said had led the service during extraordinarily challenging circumstances.
He said they had known each since 1988 and remained close friends.
When asked about officer unrest on the Gold Coast – sparked over the standing down of senior sergeant Arron Ottaway who is accused of allowing officers to ram a stolen car – Mr Gollschewski said the police service was a very big organisation.
“Are you going to have disconnects between leadership and workforce? Absolutely,” Mr Gollschewski said.
“Are there some at the moment that we’re concerned about? Yes.
“And the Gold Coast, it’s an area that I’ll be giving attention to. What I know on the Gold Coast is there’s an outstanding group of leaders down there. There’s an outstanding group of police officers on the ground doing the work.”
Mr Gollschewski said he would be getting “directly involved” with issues on the Gold Coast.
He denied that the police service taking on management of other agencies, such as the State Emergency Services, would have an effect on frontline services.
Asked to comment on claims made by Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers that Ms Carroll had been “taken advantage of” and treated unfairly by some men within the service “because she is a woman”, Mr Gollschewski said he needed to speak to her about it.
“Katarina is a very caring person,” he said.
“Whether she was taken advantage of or not, I’d really like to ask Katarina how she feels about that.
“Are there people in our community and all organisations that take advantage of someone who shows compassion and empathy? Probably.
“That’s not a conversation I’ve had with Katarina at the moment. Probably down the track we will.
“(It’s) a really important thing. If that’s the case, was it isolated incidents, was it something more broad, what do I need to do about it?”
On Friday Commissioner Carroll endorsed Mr Gollschewski as her successor and urged him to apply for the position full-time.
Speaking at a charity lunch for the Jack Beasley Foundation, she described Mr Gollschewski as “the right person” to take the QPS forward.
“He and I worked together for many years … and I hope he applies for the job full-time,” she said.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Friday said the LNP would keep whoever was appointed Commissioner if they formed government.
Invitations for expression of interest for the permanent commissioner role will begin next week, with the search expected to be worldwide.
Originally published as Katarina Carroll caretaker replacement Steve Gollschewski puts hand up for the role on permanent basis
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