The Queensland Police Union of Employees is dedicated to serving the industrial and legal needs of police in Queensland.

Office hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
Please phone 07 3259 1900 for all enquiries.

Ian Leavers General President

2AM Nightclub close has wide support

27 October 2009
The Queensland Police Union General President Ian Leavers has today publicly released a submission to the Inquiry of the Law, Justice and Safety Committee of the Queensland Parliament on Alcohol-Related Violence in Queensland. The main recommendation is to restrict nightclub hours until 2am and suburban hotels to 12 midnight.

“Too many people have been severely bashed, injured, maimed and disfigured all in the mistaken belief that swilling alcohol until dawn somehow makes us internationally superior or sophisticated – it doesn’t,” Mr Leavers said.

“There is now plenty of evidence that selling liquor until sunrise is taking a high toll on our youth. They are ending up in our watchhouse’s, courts, ambulances and our hospitals at an alarming rate and otherwise sensible young men and women are committing acts of brutality and callousness whilst blind drunk that destroys their future and that of their victims and families.

I know nightclub owners and publicans will not be happy with our submission, however, its time to put the interests of the wider community before the licensees desire to fill their tills for the maximum number of hours.

There is great common ground on this and I thank, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, Dr Wall of Australasian College of Surgeons and Jason Dutton of the Ambulance Union for their fulsome support of this proposal.

“2am closing times are something which is in place in much of the world. Most of the USA and Europe have 2am closing times and the very same problems are currently being experienced in New South Wales and Victoria,” Mr Leavers said.

“I’m not a wowser and enjoy a drink as much as the next person, however, I’ve never had a drink after 2am that I really needed or improved my judgement.

In the early hours of the morning busy entertainment districts such as Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise are very violent and hazardous places. The party atmosphere is regularly shattered by acts of savagery and brutality that shocks even seasoned police and ambulance officers.

Police and Ambulance officers are run off their feet responding to one unnecessary drunken brawl after another. The hospital emergency wards fill hour by hour with the human carnage that is the end result of what no doubt began as a good night out.

It’s time to restore order…It’s time to let our young people go out at night without the real risk that they will be bashed, and its time to stop the chaos on our streets,” Mr Leavers said.

Submission to the Inquiry of the Law, Justice and Safety Committee of the Queensland Parliament on Alcohol-Related Violence in Queensland on behalf of The Queensland Police Union of Employees (PDF)

Kangaroo court option sought by CMC

7 August 2009
“Reports in the media that the CMC wishes to obtain changes to the police discipline system are nothing more than an attempt to distract attention from the CMC’s poor track record in proving the allegations it pursues,” Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers states.

“The CMC has a poor track record when it comes to their inability to substantiate allegations and know they want to lower the bar to have mere allegations accepted as fact,” Mr Leavers said.

“The CMC won’t be happy until they have established a kangaroo court for police that accepts assertions without question.

That’s not the way a fair justice system works and nor should there be a relaxing of the evidentiary standards that apply to allegations of misconduct by police.

If the CMC is going to recommend discipline action against police, then they ought to be able to back it up with proper evidence.

The current carping about the necessity to prove allegations is ludicrous.

There are existing independent appeal mechanisms if the CMC is unhappy with the outcomes of the police discipline system such as the Misconduct Tribunal, however, they too require evidence to be provided. The CMC needs to accept that some of the officers it pursues are just not guilty, and move on instead of engaging in a whinge-athon.

No doubt the CMC have been severely embarrassed that it took the fleeting return of Tony Fitzgerald to unearth the revelations of improper relationships between government and business, which have been allowed to flourish under the CMC.

Even now, with almost daily accusations of improper dealings by politicians, the CMC is focused on trying to mess around with the police discipline system rather than using its powers to examine much more serious allegations involving potential corruption at the highest levels of government.

Their inaction on this front over the past years does not reflect well on the entire CMC organisation,” Mr Leavers said.

QPUE rejects Atkinson criticism
General President Ian Leavers on Australia Talks: Lethal Force and Tasers (ABC Radio National 27.07.2009) (MP3)
CMC reports wild allegations as evidence
Ian Leavers elected General President of the QPUE
Drink driving police may be stupid but still deserve to be treated fairly
Trial by media tramples on officers rights
Cameras attached to Tasers would remove any doubt
Tasers reduce firearms use – reduce risk to offenders, public and police
Death in custody - Brandon

Don't Risk 2nd Rate Safety

Video Update
Wednesday, June 10th 2009
WORKPLACE SAFETY LAWS UNDER THREAT
Workers in NSW are protected by the world’s best workplace safety laws, but that could soon change.

A national agreement to undercut workplace safety standards is close to approval.
Alarmingly, unions would be stopped from taking court action against workplace safety breaches.
Front line police are alarmed at the changes, as the hero of the recent Roseberry pub siege, Sergeant Stephen De Lorenzo explains in this video:
www.dontriskoursafety.com.au
Take action to keep your workplace safe. Sign our online petition and forward this email to your friends.
Rockhampton commital trial interview - Acting General President Ian Leavers (WIN NEWS 12.05.2009)
Rockhampton commital trial interview - Acting General President Ian Leavers (TEN NEWS 12.05.2009)
Information for members - 23 April 2008
Information for QPUE Members RE Pay Freeze
Attention all Forensic Officers - 17.04.2009 (PDF)
DNA Fax Form (PDF)

QPRIME COMPLAINTS

The QPUE would like to hear any complaints officers have about the QPrime System.
Please send in all QPrime complaints to qprime@qpu.asn.au
Bushfire Financial Assistance for Victorian Police - 12.02.2009
The Queensland Police Union of Employees Scholarship Scheme
Rural Locality Incentive Payments - 31.10.2008
Emergency Services Exclusive Golf Rates at Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club
TASER Electronic Control Devices: Review of Safety Literature - 25.08.2008
Taser Facts - 22.07.2008

October 2009 Journal

General President’s Message
General Secretary’s Message
Assistant General Secretary’s Message
General Vice President’s Message
Metro South Region
South East Region
North Coast Region
Southern Region
Central Region
Legal - Family Law Issues
QPS DSP
Creating Positive Workplaces
Breaking the Silence
Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Sidebar
Behind The Spin
Brett T Handran
Remembrance – across the world
Police Remembrance Day 2009
Election Notice - Conference Deledates 2010
CPA
Correspondence
Police Health
QRPA

Celebrating 50 years

Hear, see and feel the powerful sounds of the Queensland Police Pipes and Drums

For 50 years the Queensland Police Pipes & Drums (QPPD) have, through traditional music, helped the Queensland Police Service (QPS) build positive relationships with the community it serves.

To celebrate their golden anniversary this year, the pipes and drums band are holding a gala fundraising concert, “Echoes of Edinburgh,” at Brisbane City Hall on June 27.

Joining the pipe band on stage are the Australian Army Band; Fiddlesticks (Folk and Celtic ensemble); vocalists Greg Moore, Ben Kapa and Nicky Steel; David Williams (on didgeridoo) and the Thistle Highland Dancers.

Read more

Union News

Ambos fear Valley's 'festive frenzy' (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 18.11.2009)
Hands off our Cops (Daily Mercury 17.11.2009) (PDF)
Hands off our police (DailyMercury.com.au 17.11.2009)
Justice? It's just a joke (Queensland Times 17.11.2009) (PDF)
Schoolies drug fears (Gold Coast Bulletin 16.11.2009) (PDF)
Finally back on the beat (Courier Mail 16.11.2009) (PDF)
Honest cop back on the beat after beating police bureaucracy (CourierMail.com.au 15.11.2009)
Say cheese - you're nicked! Police trial new cameras (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 14.11.2009)
Ex-officer blows lid on police bullying (Cairns.com.au 14.11.2009)
Financial crisis blamed for violent crime surge (Courier Mail 14.11.2009) (PDF)
Bullies in blue suicide link (Weekend Post 14.11.2009) (PDF)
Isa is police bash central (Townsville Bulletin 11.11.2009) (PDF)
State serves just 17 booze busts a year (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 10.11.2009)
Police Brutality (CourierMail.com.au 09.11.2009)
Cop `lucky to be alive' after attack (Cairns Post 09.11.2009) (PDF)
Water chief's badge pulled (Courier Mail 07.11.2009) (PDF)
Calls to curtail pub and club hours `misguided' (Redland Times 06.11.2009) (PDF)
Police Union calls on pubs and clubs to slash hours (Hervey Bay City Independent 06.11.2009) (PDF)
Welcome to the Valley, Australia's scariest Saturday night (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 05.11.2009)
Counting the cost Combating alcohol fuelled violence (Whitsunday Guardian 04.11.2009) (PDF)
Pub bosses condemn Christmas crackdown (Queensland Times 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Union calls for tam end (Toowoomba Chronicle 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Ban for glassing accused (Courier Mail 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Junior police cry foul (Courier Mail 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Momentum grows for earlier finish (Toowoomba Chronicle 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Ban for glassing accused (Courier Mail 03.11.2009)(PDF)
Pub to sue patron over 'glass' attack (Finda.com.au 02.11.2009)
2am shutdown unlikely this year (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 02.11.2009)
General President Ian Leavers on Channel 9 National Nine News (02.11.2009) (WMV)
'We can’t wait six months' (BrisbaneTimes.com.au 02.11.2009)
Queensland pub and club hours almost certain to be cut (CourierMail.com.au 02.11.2009)
Patience runs out after more booze-fuelled violence (Courier Mail 02.11.2009) (PDF)
Man likely to lose eye after horrific attack (SMH.com.au 01.11.2009)
Archive of News Stories