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| NEWS > 29 January 2007 |
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Watchdogs with a bite
WESTERN Australia, Queensland and NSW are the only states with official watchdogs empowered to investigate corruption and misconduct into the police and the public sector. Victoria's Office of Police Integrity is limited to investigating police. South Australia and Tasmania do not have independent watchdog agencies.
Western Australia
Corruption and Crime Commission: Investigates police and the public sector. Can tap telephones, instigate investigations, execute search warrants, summons witnesses or documents, force witnesses to answer incriminating questions, search public offices, ... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Courier Mail - Australia
29 January 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Queensland Police Union
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Police anger
POLICE have threatened to withdraw protection services from politicians as anger grows within the force over moves to charge Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley with the manslaughter of Palm Island man Mulrunji.
As police begin meeting today to discuss possible industrial action, the Queensland Police Union said it could retaliate against what they perceive as political interference in the case by directly targeting politicians, including Premier Peter Beattie.
Police provide at least one plainclothes officer to safeguard the Premier when he is out in public, officers are located in some Government buildings and the Security Intelligence Branch work on a rotation basis to protect politicians.
At yesterday's Cabinet meeting at a school on the northern outskirts of Brisbane, there were at least three policemen on duty.
The QPU yesterday won the backing of the Commissioned Officers' Union, which also blamed political interference for the "shameful" treatment of Snr-Sgt Hurley.
QPU vice-president Denis Fitzpatrick said members were incensed retired NSW chief justice Sir Laurence Street recommended Sen-Sgt Hurley be charged, contradicting those made last year by Queensland's Director of Public Prosecutions.
"Some of the politicians in this state live under the blanket of the protection police provide and removing that is certainly under consideration, but the votes will determine if this avenue is taken," Mr Fitzgerald said.
"While industrial action could hurt (Sen-Sgt Hurley's case) you could well see action by tomorrow afternoon; members have had enough of the political interference."
Mr Fitzpatrick said while police were not legally able to strike, other potential actions included bans on overtime and writing tickets for some traffic offences, rallies and a march on State Parliament.
At noon today, Gold Coast officers will vote on the first wave of action with similar meetings already scheduled for Townsville and Brisbane this week.
It was revealed yesterday that Sen-Sgt Hurley could also be charged with assault for facial injuries Mulrunji allegedly sustained when he was arrested by Sen-Sgt Hurley on Palm Island in 2004.
Meanwhile, Sen-Sgt Hurley's solicitor Glen Cranny called on Attorney-General Kerry Shine to ignore political pressure and slow the process down.
"Obviously it's a hot political subject, but our submissions to the Attorney by way of our letter yesterday are really to the effect of let's just slow this down a bit, there's no need for the unseemly haste," he said.
Brisbane barrister Peter Davis, SC, who assisted Sir Laurence with his review of the case, is expected to lead the prosecution case.
Mr Shine said he expected proceedings to begin within the next week.
He said it would be up to the prosecution team and Crown Law officers to determine whether alternate or extra charges were laid.
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