Police commissioner to mend ’chequered past’ with Indigenous Queenslanders

Queensland police commissioner Steve Gollcheske has admitted the force has a ‘chequered past’ with First Nations peoples but has told an inquiry work is being done to improve the relationship.

Queensland police commissioner Steve Gollcheske. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Queensland police commissioner Steve Gollschewski has admitted the force has a “chequered past” with First Nations peoples but has told an inquiry that work is being done to improve the relationship.

Appearing before the state’s Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry on Tuesday alongside director-generals of six government departments, Mr Gollschewski reflected on the Queensland Police Service’s long history with Indigenous Australians. The commissioner acknowledged officers “don’t always get it right” but said there is no tolerance for racism today.

“It’s pretty confronting some of the stuff that went on,” Mr Gollschewski said. “But what I think is really confronting for us, too, is to remember that they were acting out policies that were set by the government of the day who believed, for whatever reason, that they were doing something that was in the interest of the state.

“They took actions which … we would not tolerate in any shape or form in current society. If anyone is going to exhibit any racist beliefs or comments, there are consequences. That won’t be tolerated.”

Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry chairman Joshua Creamer, centre, with the four other committee members.

The inquiry will examine the broader impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland and the long-lasting effect of policies, including dispossession and child removal.

Representatives from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Queensland Health and Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts, Department of Resources also gave evidence on Tuesday.

Inquiry chair Waanyi and Kalkadoon man and barrister Joshua Creamer said the “theme” of the hearing seemed to be government admitting to 160 years of failures in its treatment of Indigenous Queenslanders.

Mr Gollschewski said the police force was committed to improving its relationships with First Nations peoples and finding better ways to support them. “There’s more for us to learn as we go through this and research the past; we understand more and certainly going forward,” he said.

“Anything that can help heal the past and allow everyone to move on is a very good thing.”

In the inquiry’s first week, several Aboriginal elders shared their experiences about dispossession, stolen wages, living on missions and abuse encountered in state-run dormitories.

The inquiry will continue in the coming weeks.