LNP cuts to our frontline not forgotten

Maryborough locals have marked a sad anniversary with it now being five years since the then LNP Government slashed fifteen full time jobs from the community.

The vicious job cuts from the Maryborough Correctional Centre, one of the town’s largest employers, were a result of the Nicholls/Newman Government’s first cut, sack and sell State Budget.

Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan said the ruthless job losses were a brutal slap in the face for the hard working staff at the Centre.

“The LNP sacked fifteen staff from the Maryborough prison. It still does not make sense why they would cut jobs from such an important regional employer,” Minister Ryan said.

“These jobs were for key prisoner rehabilitation positions and included trade instructors, counsellors, program officers and education officers – staff critical to help break the cycle of crime.

“It baffles me that the LNP claim to want to reduce crime when under their watch prisoner numbers rose by almost 30% and they sacked the very people whose job it was to tackle criminal behaviour.

“They also failed to make any plans to accommodate the sharp increase in prisoner numbers.

“The Palaszczuk Government is cleaning up the mess left behind by the LNP, creating new jobs and keeping Queenslanders safe.

“We are restoring the frontline staff in Corrective Services who play such a very important role in protecting our community.”

Just today we see the LNP claiming the Palaszczuk government is failing to restore police resources to help stamp out drugs such as ICE and organised crime gangs out of Queensland.

Minister for Police Mark Ryan said this is simply untrue.

“The LNP like to talk tough, but they never fund their rhetoric,” Minister Ryan said.

“Unlike the LNP, the Palaszczuk Government fund initiatives that help to keep our Queensland communities safe.

“Under the Palaszczuk Government, Queensland Police Service (QPS) has a record amount of police officers to tackle crime and improve community safety, with an approved police strength of 396 officers in the Wide Bay Burnett Police District,” Minister Ryan said.

“This Government fully recognises the dangers of illicit drug use and in particular the dangers created by those organised crime groups that distribute and supply the drug ICE.

“That is why the QPS has developed and is currently implementing a specific strategy targeting those groups that distribute this drug.

“As part of that strategy, the Wide Bay Burnett District has received funding of $38,000 for the purchase of a TruNarc drug identification instrument as well as funding to support ongoing operational activities to reduce crime.

“Just today, detectives from Hervey Bay and Maryborough have concluded a 12-month operation targeting trafficking and supply of methylamphetamine on the Fraser Coast.

“Officers working on Operation Papa Tombaugh executed a number of search warrants in Hervey Bay, Craignish, Maryborough and West Brisbane over the past few days, arresting and charging 17 people (aged between 21 and 40) on a total of 171 offences.

“The charges range from trafficking, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, as well as proceed of crime and weapons act offences.

“The Wide Bay Burnett District will continue to initiate investigations into ICE distribution networks in conjunction with State Crime Command and external enforcement agencies.

“The Palaszczuk Government and the QPS are committed to tackling the scourge of ice and we will continue to work closely to provide our officers with the resources and laws they need to keep Queenslanders safe.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister Ryan’s office:                    07 3035 8300