Question on Notice No. 1253

MR M HART ASKED MINISTER FOR POLICE AND CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND MINISTER FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (HON M RYAN)—

QUESTION:
With reference to Labor’s election commitment to employ 150 additional Police Officers to
the Gold Coast region—
Will the Minister advise (a) how many of these Police Officers will be committed to Palm
Beach Station and (b) when these officers are likely to commence work?

ANSWER:
This Government has committed to the biggest boost to policing in Queensland in three
decades. Our record 2020/21 police budget supports the rollout of an additional 2,025
police personnel over five years, from 1 July 2020, including 1,450 police officers. The
additional personnel will not only give the Queensland Police Service (QPS) an enhanced
capability to investigate and respond to crime, but also to disrupt and prevent crime.
Of the 1,450 additional police officers to be delivered over five years, at least 150 positions
will be located in each of:
• the new Far Northern Police Region which includes Cairns;
• the Northern Police Region which includes Townsville and Mount Isa;
• the Central Police Region which includes Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton;
• the new North Coast Police Region which includes Maryborough/Wide Bay, Sunshine
Coast, and Moreton Bay;
• the North Brisbane Police District;
• the South Brisbane Police District;
• the South Eastern Police Region which includes Logan and the Gold Coast; and
• the Southern Police Region which includes Ipswich and Toowoomba.
With regard to the specific allocations for each location for each financial year, the current
and future allocation of police resources is determined by the Police Commissioner
following a detailed assessment of area growth, safety issues and any new or emerging
issues. The Commissioner makes this decision, free of any political interference, which is
as it should be. This also ensures a fair and eq