26 October 2023
Response to Ian Leavers’ opinion article regarding Treaty and justice reform in Queensland
Today we, the First Nations Advisory Group to the Queensland Police Service, and a collective of supporters and
allies stand united in our dismissal of the outwardly racist ideology expressed by the Queensland Police Union
President, Ian Leavers in the Courier Mail. We stand with the thousands of Qld Police Employees and members
of the public who are appalled by the comments of the President of the Police Union.
The Queensland Police Union Presidents’ statements are nothing short of reinforcing negative racial stereotypes
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These statements politicise the truth and treaty process as a
means for spring boarding a personal campaign that is negligent and outwardly harmful to the wellbeing and
interests of our First Nations peoples and communities, and to the reconciliation efforts of our nation.
The Queensland Police Union Presidents’ factually inaccurate, inflammatory, and fear-mongering comments do not reflect who we are, and who we aspire to be as people in this state of Queensland.
These racialised and divisive comments should be condemned in the strongest terms.
The Queensland Police Union President has through his comments bought into question whether he is a fit and proper person for the role of General President and Chief Executive of the Queensland Police Union.
We call on
Mr Leavers to resign.
We call on the QPU, QPS leadership, and QLD Government to take all necessary steps to ensure they lead from
a place of truth-telling and accountability.
We call on the members of the Queensland police union who do not
align themselves with these comments to speak up.
The Queensland Police Union President has demonstrated his willingness to be gravely irresponsible and use his
position and platform to advance personal ideas that renowned criminologists and researchers have confirmed
are not based in evidence.
The Queensland Police Union President has through his comments undermined the
incredibly complex and challenging role of police to develop trusting and culturally safe relationships with
communities and has harmed communities and the community confidence in the Queensland Police Service.
The Queensland Police Union President’s comments have seen him deny the evidential ‘truth’ that was
demonstrated in the Commission of Inquiry that racism, sexism, and misogyny exist in the Queensland Police
Service in favour of spreading misinformation and inciting a racial divide.
The Queensland Police Union has a
vital role in supporting QPS staff in providing a safe workplace for its members and to advocate for an environment
free from racism, sexism, and misogyny, ensuring that staff are adequately supported, trained, and resourced to
undertake the incredibly challenging role of culturally safe policing in Queensland.
This includes culturally safe
policing responses that will break the cycle of discriminatory stop-and-search measures, arbitrary arrests,
excessive use of force, at times leading to death. The Queensland Police Union Presidents’ comments detract
from this vital role of the Police Union.
The ‘real truth’ of crime committed by young people is that they themselves are likely to have been victims of crime
and are much more likely to have experienced trauma causing a disengagement from education, family, and
community. They are more likely to be homeless or are couch-surfing.
These are our forgotten children.
Since July 2019, Queensland has slowly and carefully been proceeding on a path towards truth and healing and
an ultimate reframing of the relationship between the State and its First Nations Peoples.
The Queensland Path
to Treaty, with its central focus on firstly building community understanding of the impacts of colonisation on First
Nations Peoples and the reasons why disadvantage continues to be experienced by First Nations communities are
structured to bring Queensland on a shared journey of truth-telling, understanding, and healing.
Treaties are agreements that can only occur after this shared understanding is built and agreement is reached on how best to empower First Nations communities to improve life outcomes.
This a joint effort to shape a future we will all be
proud of.
Given the challenges we all face as communities in Queensland, what we need are leaders who are prepared to
find solutions, to promote co-operation and truth-telling and to devote their energy to building communities and not
causing further harm.
We know in our hearts that these views do not represent the hearts and minds of the people of goodwill who are
committed to healing our national divide and standing in strength with our First Nations peoples – now is the time
for us to stand together in strength, understanding, and unity.
Related links