Record $2.86 billion police budget to boost community safety

The Palaszczuk Government has delivered a record $2.86 billion Police Budget for 2021-22 to support police in keeping communities safe across Queensland.

The Queensland Police Service has a total estimated budget in 2021-22 of $2.86 billion, an increase of $180.6 million or 6.7% from the last financial year. This includes an operating budget of $2.7 billion and a capital budget of $156 million.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the record budget would equip the Queensland Police Service with the resources they need to do what they do best – frontline, professional policing that protects communities right across the State.

“This government has delivered yet another record budget for our hard-working police backed up by tough laws that will strengthen their capacity to prevent and disrupt crime wherever it happens, whenever it happens,” Mr Ryan said.

“This budget backs our frontline police and backs in the good work they do – protecting the community from COVID-19, keeping our vast road network safe, supporting the victims of domestic and family violence and bringing perpetrators to justice, taking tough action on outlaw motorcycle gangs and working side-by-side with other government agencies to turn youth crime statistics around.”

“From the dedicated officers in Taskforce Argos who rescue children from the clutches of the dark net, to the officers who conduct roadside drug tests to prevent road trauma and the officers involved in trials of metal detecting wands on the Gold Coast to disrupt knife crimes, we owe them and their police colleagues a great debt of gratitude.” 

Police budget highlights

• $156 million for police capital program including police facilities, police vehicles and vessels, and equipment. This amount includes:
  • $10 million for minor capital works across the State to enhance and modernise police facilities
  • $2.7 million for the development of new apps for police QLiTE tablets to enhance mobile capabilities
  • $1.6 million towards the continuing roll out of 25 mobile police beats for a more visible police presence in communities
• Access to additional funding of up to $68 million to support COVID-19 compliance activities to keep communities safe 
• Extra funding of $4.2 million over four years to expand and continue the Roadside Drug Testing Program to boost road safety
• Funding to continue the electronic monitoring of adult offenders on bail
• $1 million for a trial of metal detecting wands on the Gold Coast to target knife crime
• Increased funding of $5.3 million over two years to support the tough new measures that build on the Five Point Action Plan and target the small cohort of hard-core recidivist youth offenders through the blitz on bail, the Youth Co-Responder teams and Community-based Crime Action Committees
• $4 million for new and replacement body worn video cameras
• $4 million towards the purchase of integrated load-bearing ballistic vests for police officers – a first for Queensland
• $1.4 million to roll out 1,000 QLiTE mobile tablet devices

Minister Ryan said the $156 million capital program would deliver quality frontline policing services across Queensland.

“This program is important. It’s about building police infrastructure and that means jobs for workers at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever.”

Capital program highlights

• $12.9 million to complete the replacement police facilities at Beaudesert, Biloela, Burketown, Nambour and Pormpuraaw
• $11.3 million to progress the upgrades of the Cairns, Dalby and Warwick police facilities
• $8.1 million to progress the new Cairns West and Ripley police facilities, complete the new Pimpama police facility and commence planning for the new Rosewood police facility
• $7.2 million to progress the replacement police facilities at Cooroy, Cunnamulla and Woree
• $6.5 million to complete the upgrade of the Aurukun police facility and commence the upgrades of the Mackay and Maryborough police facilities
• $1.7 million to progress the replacement police facilities at Clermont, Dayboro and Kirwan and the water police facility at Hervey Bay
• $40.6 million for new and replacement police vehicles
• $5.5 million for new and replacement police vessels
• $6 million for upgrades and replacements to air conditioning and closed circuit cameras at police facilities across the state
• $4 million for aircraft maintenance to provide aviation support for search and rescue, organ retrievals, natural disasters and police operations
• $10.5 million for Camera Detected Offence Program equipment
• $11.3 million for information and communications technology

Minister Ryan said the record police budget of $2.86 billion for 2021-22 reaffirms the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to community safety across Queensland.

“It’s an investment in policing, an investment in community safety and an investment in the 12,000-plus police officers who work hard every day to protect us, no matter where we live in Queensland,” Mr Ryan said.

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Willmington 0411 535 180