The biggest investment in policing in more than three decades will see the delivery of 50 extra police officers to the Northern Region, including Townsville, in the coming financial year.
This will take the total number of additional police delivered to the Northern Region under the Palaszczuk Government to over 180, with even more on the way.
Police Minister Mark Ryan was joined by Townsville MP Scott Stewart, Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers and Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler to make the announcement at the Townsville Police Academy where recruits are undergoing an intensive 28-week training program.
The training regime includes extensive instruction in Operational Skills Training, including the deployment of tasers in high-risk situations.
Trainers and recruits demonstrated the use of tasers during an exercise at the academy today, as an example of the world-class training Queensland Police Service recruits undergo before joining the service as fully fledged officers.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Queensland Police Service was world-class and today's taser demonstration highlighted the extensive training recruits undergo.
"It is no accident that the Queensland Police Service has a reputation internationally as a world-class police service.
"The highest standards of training ensure our recruits are the best prepared for a career in law enforcement and community safety.
"Queensland police officers have demonstrated their commitment to their fellow Queenslanders during the pandemic and the government is demonstrating its commitment to police by making the biggest investment in policing in more than three decades.
"As a result, 50 new officers will further bolster the Northern Region's ranks in the next financial year, with more to come.
"That's in addition to almost 130 extra officers already delivered to the Northern Region since the Palaszczuk Government came to power.
"This is the government delivering on the commitment it made prior to the last election.
"The Palaszczuk Government has demonstrated again and again that when it makes a commitment to local communities, it delivers.
"And that is what we have here.
"The government is making a watershed investment in policing delivering more than 2,000 extra police personnel, a commitment the Police Commissioner says will see the deployment of a minimum of 150 extra police officers to each of the state's policing regions, including the Northern Region.
"That is why Queensland's two police academies, the one here in Townsville and the other in Brisbane, are going flat out training new recruits.
"Queensland has not seen an investment of this nature in policing for decades.
"It's all about supporting community safety."
Minister Scott Stewart said the government's historic investment was for the benefit of the community now and for the future.
"The Palaszczuk Government back police one hundred percent and always will.
"That's why we are seeing a $600 million investment in police personnel as well as a $300 million investment in police infrastructure."
Member for Thuringowa, Aaron Harper, welcomed the announcement and said the extra police coming to the Northern Region reinforced the need for new facilities like the major new piece of police infrastructure that will be built at the old 1300 Smiles Stadium site.
"We are going to have a lot more police, so we will need the facilities to accommodate them.
"This is about putting in place the infrastructure a growing Queensland Police Service will need now and into the future."
Mundingburra MP, Les Walker, said the continued growth of police resources in the Northern Region, including Townsville, demonstrated the government's commitment to supporting community safety for all Queenslanders.
"This is great investment in police.
"And it's a great investment in our local communities.
"I will never relent in advocating for the people I represent, and it is very heartening to see this continued commitment to supporting community safety."
Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler said the extra officers coming to the Northern Region would be allocated operationally for maximum effect.
"We know that domestic violence is a significant issue.
"That is one of the areas to which we will deploy some of these resources, in addition at least half of the extra positions will be deployed to general duties."
"Right now there are more than 900 police officers permanently based in the Northern Region.
"The reality is that in the not too distant future, there will be more than 1,000 police officers permanently based here, and I think the community can be very reassured by that extremely significant police presence."
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers said today's announcement was something the QPU had campaigned hard to achieve.
"This is great news for police in Townsville and the Northern Region and the extra positions for general duties is something the QPU has strongly advocated for," Mr Leavers said.
"This announcement means police in the Northern Region are getting the support they need and deserve, and I want to thank the Government for listening to our advocacy and delivering on this commitment."
