- Miles Government's community safety plan delivers major boost to frontline policing around the state, including Mackay.
- Government to uplift the Queensland Police Service by 900 police personnel over three years.
- In the Central Police Region consisting of the Mackay Police District and Capricornia Police District a total of 57 new police positions will be allocated by the Queensland Police Service over three years.
The Miles Labor Government this week announced a major uplift in Queensland Police Service personnel – 900 extra positions over three years as part of its Community Safety Plan.
This builds on the government's existing 2,025 by 2025 commitment, bringing the investment bringing the total investment to more 3,000.
In the Central Queensland Police Region, which covers Mackay, Whitsundays and Capricornia, the investment will deliver 57 new police positions to the region.
Queensland Police in Mackay are supported by dedicated youth co-responder teams, to help drive down youth offending and reoffending.
This month, the Mackay Youth Co-Responder team marked three years of early intervention operations.
In that time, more than 5,000 engagements were undertaken – including proactive engagement, diversion to support services and supporting young people and their families.
Despite a globally tight labour market, Queensland is leading the nation when it comes to police recruitment.
Nearly 700 recruits are currently undergoing training and over 2,000 applicants are in the recruit pipeline. That's a record for Queensland's Police Academies.
The comprehensive incentive package, combined with an aggressive recruiting campaign has seen the recruit pipeline improve by 200 percent in the last year.
The Queensland Police Service also advises that the number of police officers, combined with recruits undergoing training, is now the highest it has ever been in Queensland's history.
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
"My government has a strong Community Safety Plan for Queensland.
"We're giving our frontline the resources they need to keep our communities safe, and ensure Queenslanders feel safe.
"Across this region (Central), Police will be supported by 57 extra boots on the ground over the next three years.
"And we're investing in the diversionary programs that work, like the youth co-responder teams.
"The team in Mackay has completed over 5,000 engagements with young people and their families – an incredible effort that is making a positive difference in the lives of Queenslanders."
Quotes attributable to Police and Community Safety Minister Mark Ryan:
"The Miles Government will never relent in supporting community safety.
"Each year we are making record investments in police and that will continue, because more police boots on the ground makes the community safer, and feel safer.
"I speak to police officers right across the state and everywhere I go police tell that the investments the government is making to back police are making a very real difference.
"I want to thank our police officers right across Queensland for their incredible commitment to their local communities, because I know how much Queenslanders appreciate the efforts of police on their behalf."
Quotes attributable to Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert:
"We've already seen programs like our Youth Co-Responder initiatives making a real difference in our community.
"This expansion will mean that they can do even more good work helping our young people before they go down the wrong path."
Quotes attributable to Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga:
"The Miles Government has a strong record of supporting community safety and our police here in Central Queensland.
"These additional personnel will back in our existing support for police in our area.
"I am proud to be part of a government who is delivering more frontline police staff."
Quotes attributable to Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke:
"We're investing in the things that matter. These new police will make a real difference in our community.
"We already have so many new recruits in the pipeline and I'm excited for some of them to call Rocky home."
Quotes attributable to Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski:
"The QPS welcomes the Government's announcement of additional police personnel, boosting our officer positions as well as the number of staff members supporting the frontline.
"Additional resources will assist us in our commitment in keeping the community safe and ensuring they feel safe.
"Despite the recruiting challenges being experienced in policing jurisdictions across Australia, the QPS is continuing to see a healthy pipeline of police recruit applicants.
"A career in policing is a career like no other, and the incentives currently available to applicants means there's no better time to join the Queensland Police."
