QLD election 2020: Labor promises $77m boost for frontline police equipment
The State Government has vowed to spend $77 million on beefing up police equipment, including much-needed ballistic vests and body cameras, in what would be the biggest boost “in Queensland Police history”.
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All frontline cops in Queensland would be issued with bulletproof equipment vests and iPads under a re-elected Palaszczuk Government, Police Minister Mark Ryan says.
Mr Ryan made the pledge during a visit to the Gold Coast’s Coomera police station yesterday, saying the $77 million equipment boost would be the biggest “in Queensland police history”.
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The Government has already promised to deliver a record extra 2000 police in its next term if it is re-elected and Mr Ryan said this would be matched by resources.
He said 12,000 officers would be issued with ‘next-generation’ ballistic equipment vests, 4500 extra body cameras and 5000 iPads linked to the police crime data base to allow them to be more mobile.
An extra 3000 vehicles would also be added to the police fleet, Mr Ryan said.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the ballistic vests, in particular, would be “absolutely outstanding” for frontline officers.
Mr Ryan said the LNP would slash police funding in what was a “big risk” to Queensland.
“It is a fact that when Campbell Newman and Deb Frecklington were last in government and were signing off on the QPS budget, not enough funding was provided for critical equipment needed by police,” Mr Ryan said.
“The underfunded policing announcements already made by the LNP prove that the LNP is planning to cut the policing budget again.”
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington last week promised 100 new officers for the Gold Coast and the LNP had also committed to a public sex offender register, tougher laws and a dedicated police helicopter for Townsville.
“Without a budget or an economic plan, Queenslanders can’t believe a word Labor says,” Shadow Police Minister Dan Purdie said.
“Under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, crime rates have skyrocketed across Queensland because Labor is soft on crime.”
Originally published as QLD election 2020: Labor promises $77m boost for frontline police equipment