A “failure of leadership” has allowed a culture of sexism, racism, fear and silence to take hold unchecked within the Queensland police service (QPS), a scathing inquiry report has found.
On Monday the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, backed the beleaguered police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, to keep her job and oversee the implementation of 78 recommendations of the inquiry into QPS’s responses to domestic violence.
But the government’s support for the police leadership came in the face of repeated and searing criticisms by the inquiry chair, Justice Deborah Richards, who raised doubts as to whether the current top brass was strong enough, or respected enough, to implement real reform.
“Future improvements will require a sustained and dedicated commitment from a strong and respected leadership,” the report said.
“This is likely to be a significant challenge for the QPS.”
The report also acknowledges what victims of family violence, First Nations people and police whistleblowers have been saying for years: there is a cultural problem within the QPS.
“Despite the initial protestations of the commissioner of police and the president of the Police Union of Employees, the commission has found clear evidence of a culture where attitudes of misogyny, sexism and racism are allowed to be expressed, and at times acted upon, largely unchecked,” the report said.
“Where complaints in relation to such treatment are brushed aside or dealt with in the most minor of ways and those who complain are the ones who are shunned and punished.
“It is hardly surprising that these attitudes are reflected then in the way that those police who hold them, respond to victim-survivors. It is a failure of the leadership of the organisation that this situation has been allowed to continue over many years.”
The report made 78 recommendations, which largely relate to reform of the QPS and amount to an overhaul of the structure of the service.
One of the most significant recommendations is to establish a civilian police integrity unit, within the auspices of the Crime and Corruption Commission, that would handle complaints and stop the controversial practice of police investigating police.
Palaszczuk said the government had appointed deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski – who was accused by First Nations people of being aggressive and using “racialised language” during a recent meeting – to a position coordinating police reform.
Gollschewski on Monday denied the allegations and said: “I have the utmost respect for all First Nations people and, in particular, every member of the First Nations reference group.”
The report also recommends dedicated domestic violence units at every police district, and an overhaul of training and education of officers.
The commission heard that recent failures by the QPS leadership to address comments by senior leaders compounds the issues of sexism, misogyny and racism.
“The QPS leadership is responsible for setting the ethical tone for the organisation,” the report said.
“In addition to the requirement that its leaders lead by example, there is also an obligation that senior leaders create a culture where employees are prepared to report misconduct and are supported when they do.
“Failures by the QPS leadership on both fronts make the issues of sexism and misogyny difficult to overcome.”
Palaszczuk said Carroll was a “strong woman” who would implement the recommendations, rejecting suggestions the commissioner was not the right person to lead reform, given the findings.
“Let me say very clearly: I expect the reforms to be implemented very, very clearly,” she said.
“If you are racist or sexist, you have no role working in the Queensland police service.”
The police minister, Mark Ryan, also backed the commissioner as the person to ensure all the recommendations were implemented. He said police would get additional resources to do so.
Carroll said she had a strong history of reform and had begun “in earnest” to enhance the QPS.
“I have an extensive history of reform,” she said.
“It’s on the record … I have commenced in earnest. I’m 100% committed to seeing this reform through, working with these recommendations and delivering on the intent of the outcomes of this report.”
The head of Women’s Legal Service Queensland, Nadia Bromley, said she hoped the “troubling but not surprising” evidence of racism and sexism within the state’s police force will “shock” the state into action.
Bromley welcomed the fact that the recommendations were “timebound” – with deadlines of up to 18 months – meaning that, unlike previous inquiries, this would “really allow the government to be held to account”.
“The women of Queensland deserve better and I hope that everyone who reads this report is shocked into action, into believing the women and their stories,” she said.
An Indigenous officer who resigned after 26 years in the Queensland police service after attempts to address racism in the organisation left him “broken”, says “transformative and genuine reforms” to the police can only be realised through an “overhaul of [its] leadership”.
“We have a leadership that perpetuates the system, and until such time as we get a diversity of perspectives and individuals and views and lenses of the people that sit in those decision making positions, we’re not going to see genuine change,” Richard Monaei said.
“The leadership needs to be reflective of the diversity that we see in our community.”
Angela Lynch, from the Queensland Sexual Assault Network, said she welcomed the greater focus on independence and accountability but that allegations of criminality within police ranks raised during the inquiry must now be investigated to make sure victims of sexual violence felt safe reporting to the police.
“It is completely unacceptable to have victims of sexual violence reporting to police who may well have committed the crimes they are reporting on,” she said.
“We can all imagine how these matters will end for the victim.”
But Monaei said he had little confidence in the report’s calls for better engagement with First Nations people, given he had seen similar calls being used as “smokescreens of words” over his two-and-a-half decades in the force.
“In my experience, the organisation is tone deaf when it comes to genuine, authentic and purposeful engagement,” he said.
