Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says a damning report into police culture and failures in responses to domestic violence is a "dark day" for the service and has pleaded with the community to have "faith" in her leadership.
Commissioner Carroll has the backing of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to stay in her job, despite 78 recommendations made by Judge Deborah Richards in her report following a five-month Commission of Inquiry into police handling of domestic and family violence.
The report, released by the premier on Monday, found that a "failure of the leadership" had allowed a toxic culture of sexism, misogyny and racism to fester in the police service for years.
Speaking to ABC Radio Brisbane on Tuesday morning, Commissioner Carroll said the report drew a "line in the sand" and she was committed to fast-tracking reforms that were interrupted during the pandemic.
"I ask that you have faith in us ... that we will deliver this, and as a result you will get not only an organisation that is reforming or reformed, but will transform," she said.
Commissioner Carroll reiterated an apology to those affected by the entrenched failures.
"Victims internally and externally have been let down, and I have apologised and I'll again apologise for letting those people down," she said.
Commissioner Carroll welcomed the short timeframes set out in the report for the implementation of many of the 78 recommendations. She said the deadlines of six or 12 months would allow her to "hone in" on needed reforms with the support of an additional $100 million committed by the premier.
Union rejects integrity unit
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers agreed with most of the recommendations, except for those 68 to 73, which related to the state government establishing an independent integrity unit.
"What we do have is the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), which is a standing royal commission … and they have a role to play," he said.
Mr Leavers said the discipline system already in place is "good" but has been "maladministered".
"Some people have been asleep at the wheel, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater,'' he said.
Mr Leavers said the police officers who were doing the wrong thing had no place in the service.
"The misogynist, the sexist behaviour and the racism, there is no place for them in the police," he said.
"But what I will say for the 98 per cent of police who are doing a great job each and every day, the commissioner needs to come out and back them because it's been left wanting.
"And that's the feeling amongst the police across the state of Queensland."
The CCC released a statement saying the success of the proposed integrity unit would be "dependent on several factors" but would "require all stakeholders to work effectively together".
"It is critical moving forward that there is a focus on building confidence and trust in the handling of police complaints for both the community and police," the statement said.
Leadership is responsible, AG says
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman told ABC Radio Brisbane that she, the police commissioner, the premier, and Police Minister Mark Ryan all took responsibility for the report's scathing findings.
No police officer or minister has resigned or been sacked over the findings.
"The culture that exists within the Queensland Police Service is obviously something that has happened over decades," Ms Fentiman said.
"The responsibility now for ministers and the premier and the cabinet is to make sure that these recommendations from the commission of inquiry – that will transform this service – are implemented and are funded."
'It's racism': Former commissioner
In responding to the report, former Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Mick Gooda said "every time we call out racism, anywhere, we're told we're wrong".
"We've known in our hearts that it's racism and here is a report here confirming that," he said.
In response to Mr Leavers's remark that 98 per cent of police were doing the right thing, Mr Gooda said the police union needed to stand with those police officers and call out the bad behaviour.
Mr Gooda also rebuked Mr Leavers's comments that not all police should be judged as the same.
"Well, from what I see, police judge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people the same," Mr Gooda said.
"We all get blamed and tagged with the same behaviour because someone, somewhere did something.
"I want to support the police union, I want to support change, but there are some home truths that they've got to come to grips with."
In handing down the report, the state government yesterday announced a new assistant commissioner for First Nations would be appointed.
Mr Gooda said the right amount of time is needed to pick the right person for the position or "we will fail yet again".
"We know we need someone who has standing in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, who can stand for us, and is our advocate within the police force," he said.
"If this person doesn't have the respect of police, it's not going to work.
"If he or she doesn't have the respect of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, that's not going to work."
Mr Gooda and his colleagues support Commissioner Carroll to bring about change.
"We're putting trust in Katarina Carroll to be able to bring this reform, and we will support her, but on the other side of that we will ensure she's accountable for these changes," he said.
