Queensland police union drops fierce opposition to domestic violence inquiry

Queensland police union president Ian Leavers sees the domestic violence inquiry as an opportunity to pursue the union’s own reform agenda. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

The Queensland police union has dropped its fierce opposition to a commission of inquiry into police “cultural issues” related to the investigation of domestic violence, but says it will use the process to pursue its own reform agenda.

Terms of reference for the inquiry, to be headed by the Queensland children’s court president, Deborah Richards, confirm it will investigate the extent to which cultural issues within the police service impact responses to domestic violence, and how these have contributed to the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system.