QUEENSLAND POLICE FIRST INTERSTATE OFFICERS INTO NORTHERN TERRITORY
Published Thursday, 23 August, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Queensland will be the first state to send police officers to the Northern Territory to work on the national initiative to address child sexual abuse in the Territory, Minister for Police and Corrective Services Judy Spence said today.
“We have committed 11 Queensland police to work for six months on Task Force Themis and they will leave for the Northern territory on Saturday,” Ms Spence said.
“This talented group of officers includes three investigators with a background in the area of offences against children, seven general duties officers and one commissioned officer, Superintendent Tonya Carew.
“Superintendent Carew has already been in the Northern Territory preparing for the arrival of our police and will work with the Australian Federal Police Commander of Task Force Themis during the six month deployment.”
Ms Spence said the State Government provided the police to the Commonwealth after Indigenous Affairs Minister, Mal Brough, committed $12 million funding to build housing for police serving in Queensland Indigenous communities.
“We will now be able to provide some of the 29 extra police we promised to Queensland Indigenous communities faster thanks to this agreement with the Federal Government.”
Ms Spence said the 11 police working in the Northern Territory increases Queensland’s commitment to Australian Federal Police led operations.
“We already have 20 Queensland police serving in Timor Leste and Solomon Island under the control of Australian Federal Police and by the middle of next year 113 Queensland officers will be working at Queensland’s three international airports as Australian Federal Police.
“The Queensland Government has covered for these losses by providing funding for 200 extra police positions this year and the Queensland Police Service expects to swear in 691 new officers in 2007-08.”
Ms Spence said compared to Queensland’s commitment to increase police numbers the Commonwealth has failed to adequately fund the Australian Federal Police.
“I notice Treasurer Costello announced a higher than expected budget surplus earlier this week.
“Can I suggest to Mr Costello that instead of using this money to try and bribe the Australian public into voting for his tired government at the upcoming federal election he use this money responsibly and increase funding for the Australian Federal Police.
“Kevin Rudd has already announced he will increase the number of federal police by 500 as part of a $200 million plan if Labor wins the election.
“If Prime Minister Howard and Mr Costello took federal policing seriously they would increase funding to the Australian Federal Police for recruitment instead of standing back and allowing the AFP to raid the ranks of the Queensland Police Service.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287
“We have committed 11 Queensland police to work for six months on Task Force Themis and they will leave for the Northern territory on Saturday,” Ms Spence said.
“This talented group of officers includes three investigators with a background in the area of offences against children, seven general duties officers and one commissioned officer, Superintendent Tonya Carew.
“Superintendent Carew has already been in the Northern Territory preparing for the arrival of our police and will work with the Australian Federal Police Commander of Task Force Themis during the six month deployment.”
Ms Spence said the State Government provided the police to the Commonwealth after Indigenous Affairs Minister, Mal Brough, committed $12 million funding to build housing for police serving in Queensland Indigenous communities.
“We will now be able to provide some of the 29 extra police we promised to Queensland Indigenous communities faster thanks to this agreement with the Federal Government.”
Ms Spence said the 11 police working in the Northern Territory increases Queensland’s commitment to Australian Federal Police led operations.
“We already have 20 Queensland police serving in Timor Leste and Solomon Island under the control of Australian Federal Police and by the middle of next year 113 Queensland officers will be working at Queensland’s three international airports as Australian Federal Police.
“The Queensland Government has covered for these losses by providing funding for 200 extra police positions this year and the Queensland Police Service expects to swear in 691 new officers in 2007-08.”
Ms Spence said compared to Queensland’s commitment to increase police numbers the Commonwealth has failed to adequately fund the Australian Federal Police.
“I notice Treasurer Costello announced a higher than expected budget surplus earlier this week.
“Can I suggest to Mr Costello that instead of using this money to try and bribe the Australian public into voting for his tired government at the upcoming federal election he use this money responsibly and increase funding for the Australian Federal Police.
“Kevin Rudd has already announced he will increase the number of federal police by 500 as part of a $200 million plan if Labor wins the election.
“If Prime Minister Howard and Mr Costello took federal policing seriously they would increase funding to the Australian Federal Police for recruitment instead of standing back and allowing the AFP to raid the ranks of the Queensland Police Service.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287