Premier backs top cop as damning domestic violence report looms
Queensland’s top police officer continues to have the backing of the premier as government ministers weigh a commission of inquiry report after a series of damning hearings.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday said she had started reading the report, but would not comment further until she had finished.
“That report will be released on Monday and there will be a government response on Monday,” she said.
The inquiry previously heard multiple allegations of female officers being sexually assaulted, harassed, threatened and bullied by colleagues.
Alleged abusers have been given a slap on the wrist, while victims often stay silent for fear that speaking out will ruin their careers, the probe was told.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll fronted the inquiry and its findings are understood to suggest she was either wilfully ignorant, kept in the dark or deliberately obfuscating about knowledge of cultural issues, The Australian reported on Monday.
But she continues to enjoy the “absolute confidence” of the premier.
“The issues that are raised in the report are systemic over decades, and it is going to take someone with her leadership skills to be able to implement those reforms,” Palaszczuk said.
“We are going to get it right and I want all of my cabinet ministers to read it thoroughly.”
Unless the report contained something unforeseen, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli agreed the commissioner deserves a chance to implement cultural reform.
“Cultural change is important, as is ensuring that the police know that we value what they do,” he said.
“Those bad apples need to be weeded out and that bad culture needs to be weeded out.”
It comes as the Crime and Corruption Commission separately probes a recording of watch house officers allegedly making racist comments, which was leaked to Guardian Australia on Monday.
Carroll has dug in amid the scandals and says she hopes to remain in the role she’s held since 2019.
“I’m not wilfully blind. I’m a CEO in charge of 17,500 people. 17,500 people,” she told reporters on Tuesday.