Record $3.281 billion operating budget to bolster police services

• Record operating budget in 2023-24 of $3.281 billion
• $101.6 million to boost police resources and grow intervention programs to combat youth crime 
• $87.5 million for police recruitment initiatives
• $56 million for PCYC "back to basics” initiatives and for new and improved infrastructure in key locations

The 2023-24 State Government’s record $3.281 billion operating budget for the Queensland Police Service will fund key initiatives to support community safety.

The record police budget will also progress a $101.6 million Youth Justice Investment to boost police resources to tackle youth crime, as part of the government's total funding package of $446.4 million over five years.

Included is funding for extreme high visibility police patrols, a new specialist youth crime rapid response squad, Youth Co-responder Teams, additional early action groups and Police Liaison Officer high visibility proactive patrols.

A new key focus of driving early intervention youth initiatives is the announcement of a $50 million program over two years to build additional Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) in priority locations.

A major investment in police recruiting has already been announced with $87.5 million committed to drive a range of new police recruitment strategies over the next five years.

Additional funding is earmarked for the replacement of the North Queensland Police Academy as part of the new Kirwan Police Precinct in Townsville.

The Oxley Police Academy and Dog Squad will be relocated to the Wacol Police Precinct and the Specialist Response Group will head to an alternative site.  Additional funding of $6.2 million will expand the fleet of armoured vehicles. 

The record 2023-24 police budget will progress new and upgraded police facilities at Cairns, Caloundra South, Clermont, Cooroy, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Dayboro, Hervey Bay, Kirwan, Longreach, Mackay, Maryborough, Palm Island, Proserpine, Rainbow Beach, Ripley, Rosewood, Warwick and Winton, as well as new police accommodation at Mount Isa and Tara. 

As part of the further enhancement of frontline response capabilities, the government is providing additional funding of $27 million in 2023-24 to continue the commitment to establish an integrated volunteer marine rescue service to ensure a sustainable model to enhance the marine rescue volunteer capability for on-water safety across Queensland.

There is $7.3 million for the Marine Rescue Queensland vessel replacement program. 

And the government is providing increased funding of $16.5 million in 2023-24 to progress the transfer of Disaster Management functions to the QPS as part of the government's commitment from the Independent Review of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. 

This forms part of the government's total funding package of up to $578 million to enhance emergency services capability in Queensland

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Every day, every night, round the clock, police are out in the community doing everything they can to keep everyone safe.

 “Our police deserve every support and I am proud of the absolute commitment my government has to providing police with the people, resources and infrastructure they need to support the community.”

 Quotes attributable to Treasurer Cameron Dick:

 “Another record budget for the Queensland Police Service demonstrates the on-going and total commitment of the government to supporting community safety.

“Like all Queenslanders I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of police who work tirelessly to look after their fellow Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to Minister Ryan:

“We have world class police officers here in Queensland,” he said.

“This record budget will go a long way to supporting police tackling youth crime, domestic and family violence and initiatives around disaster management.”

“Plus, we are committed to upgrading police facilities and streamlining processes to help support our police everyday they are fighting crime and keeping the community safe.”

Commissioner Katarina Carroll:

“Our highest priority continues to be community safety,” she said.

“We appreciate this strong investment into assisting police tackle youth crime, strengthen our police recruitment pipeline and ensure our police academies are world class.

“Upgraded facilities and equipment, along with boosted police personnel, will help keep communities and officers across the state safe.

“Providing everything our officers need to perform their duties is very important and I’m pleased to see this significant investment in the QPS.”

Quotes attributable to Australian Volunteer Coastguard Association Deputy National Commodore, Allan Tennant:

 “The delivery of this funding in the State Budget will go a long way to provide certainty and clarity for volunteers on the water.

Any investment that improves the safety of volunteers and the community is a worthy one, and I look forward to continuing to work with the   Government as the implementation progresses”

Quotes attributable to Volunteer Marine Rescue General Manager, Keith Williams:

“Thank you so much for improving the safety of the boating public and volunteers on the water by making this investment in the delivery of Marine Rescue Queensland”.

“The Minister has delivered on the commitment made when the emergency service reforms were announced, and it is great to see this ongoing funding come to fruition in the Queensland State Budget.”

Further information:

Queensland Police Service

Total budget in 2023-24 of $3.6 billion consisting of $3.3 billion in budgeted operating expenses and a $362.6 million capital budget.

Initiatives in 2023-24 include:

• • • $101.6 million over five years including the continuation and expansion of the Youth Justice Investment to boost police resources, tackle the complex causes of youth crime, and support community safety via Fast-track Sentencing, Youth Crime Taskforce, Police Extreme High Visibility Patrols, Cairns Safer Streets and Midnight Basketball, Police Online Engagement and Intelligence Team, Police Liaison Officer High Visibility Proactive Patrols, Specialist Youth Crime Rapid Response Squad and Stronger Communities Initiative: Early Action Groups. This forms part of the government’s total funding package of $446.4 million over five years to support the implementation of these Youth Justice Investment measures.
    • Additional funding for the replacement of the North Queensland Police Academy as part of the new Kirwan Police Precinct in Townsville and for the relocation of the Oxley Police Academy and Dog Squad to the Wacol Police Precinct and the Specialist Response Group to an alternative site.
    • $87.5 million over five years to drive new police recruitment strategies.
    • $50 million over two years for a program to facilitate Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) and associated infrastructure development in priority locations, improving frontline social program delivery and intervention initiatives targeting youth offending and recidivism, and victimisation and $6 million to enable PCYC police officers to increase their focus on social programs aimed at the prevention of youth crime. This forms part of the government’s total funding package of $446.4 million over five years to support the implementation of these Youth Justice Investment measures.

• • • $43.5 million in 2023-24 to progress the government’s commitment of Emergency Management Reforms from the Independent Review of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and to continue the commitment to establish an integrated volunteer marine rescue service to ensure a sustainable model to enhance the marine rescue volunteer capability for on-water safety across Queensland.
    • $6.2 million over four years to procure eight armoured vehicles expanding the Specialist Response Group armoured vehicle fleet.

ENDS