 Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks very much for your time and presence here today. I'd like to obviously acknowledge and welcome the Minister for Police and Community Safety, the Hon. Jack Dempsey, to his headquarters. The Minister has just had a briefing on a range of issues with more briefings to come next week, so Minister and Vice-Chair do address the group. After the Minister speaks, we're happy to take questions on any issue you'd like to ask. Thank you, Commissioner. Today I've had an extensive briefing from the commissioner and a number of members of the Queensland Police Service in relation to the illegal firearms here in Queensland. It's been an extensive briefing and from that briefing, also from today, we'll be looking at a number of legislative requirements in relation to illegal firearms. And what we're from first up right up, I'd like to leave any concerns for the people who are doing the right thing, the good, honest people of Queensland, that we'll be looking at legislative changes and tougher penalties in relation to illegal firearms. The briefing also was also around the areas of cooperation with other states and other federal bodies in relation to the federal police and the custom agencies to ensure that we have a collaborative approach to illegal firearms and to ensure that we have the policies and the legislative requirements in place to meet the expectations of all Queenslanders. The other side of that was also fulfilling, making sure we have the fulfilment of the LNP government in that we will be getting tough on crime and particularly in relation to illegal firearms. And we're addressing that with the first 1,100 police officers over the next four years, the returning of 200 non-operational police to the actual streets and also as well as a million-dollar commitment to crime stoppers and as well as the other community-based operations. Thanks very much, Minister, and feel free obviously to raise an issue about firearms but if there are any other matters while we're here that we can comment on, happy to do that as well. Seeing your officers have known for at least 18 months that the figures were bad and getting worse, why is it only today that something's being done? Well, we've been monitoring this very closely. As you know, last year we established the Serious Violent Crime Squad on the Gold Coast and in January this year we tasked five officers, extra officers specifically within State Prime Operations Command to address the illegal firearms trade and monitor that. So we were monitoring those increases and whilst obviously we are very concerned about the use of illegal firearms associated with crime and some of the developments and currencies in recent times, we are intensely investigating those two murders at the moment and we are doing all we can and what the Minister has outlined is the extra commitment in terms of the government and I am very grateful for that. Those additional 1,100 police over four years and there will be 300 additional in Queensland in the first year, that's this financial year starting from the first of July 2012 and as well with the commitments to establish a major crime squad on the Gold Coast and have a particular additional presence on the Gold Coast that will work almost exclusively in terms of the illegal firearms trade and activity and the trade of firearms and crime. So I think we have been doing things and certainly it's planned and intended to continue activity into the future. As well the Minister mentioned the review by the government or consideration by the government of legislative change and working in terms of the national agenda because this is not a problem that's confined to Queensland as we would have all seen. This is a problem that's Australia-wide. I'm going to see you talk about legislative changes in a general sense, how many things specific that you want to implement? I think that Queensland's general population has had a feedback obviously even at the last election about their opinions in relation to the sentencing options that are handed out by magistrates and whilst the judicial system reflects the ideas of the community and the expectations of the community we have seen a number of smaller penalty options taken place and we will be looking at ways of strengthening those sentencing options to meet community expectations and ensure that all Queenslanders know that when they go home and when they go into their bed at night that they are safe. Minister, you've only been in the job a short time but what was your reaction to hear that more than 500 registered firearms are going missing in Queensland every year? Look, we have to put this in relation to other states but anything to do with a firearm is a serious matter and particularly an illegal firearm and we've got to make sure that we address these issues in a sensible approach but also that we have the visual presence of extra police out on the street meeting community expectations. Now, we have over 10,000 fine professional police throughout the service that are on the streets from the top of Queensland to the bottom of Queensland and we've got to ensure that they have the resources but also that they know that they have a commitment from the government to ensure that that visibility is enforced on the street and we're doing that by working in with the commissioner to ensure community expectations are met particularly in the area of illegal firearms. Will more highly visible police reduce the number of illegal firearms? Well, we've seen in recent days the majority of the firearm events have been opportune firearm in that the offences committed obviously have been very tragic but the sourcing of those firearms have been from very much opportunic crimes in relation to break and enters and steelings and so forth so we have to ensure that that visible presence is in there to act as a deterrent but we've also got to enforce that deterrent up with the proper court action that meets community expectations. So the sentencing is the main response to illegal firearms? Look, I'll be taking up with the Attorney General and the Cabinet to ensure that we meet community expectations in relation to getting tough on crime but ensuring that I work with the commissioner to work and get the advice in relation to addressing illegal firearms. Do you have any thoughts yet, then, minister, on the minimum penalty for possession Look, I think what I'll be doing is working in with the Attorney General and the Cabinet and also from advice from a number of key stakeholders including the commissioner and others to make sure that we get this right to have community confidence and as I said there before people deserve to feel safe in their homes and in their beds at night knowing that the trade of illegal firearms is not contained in this state. How long will these changes take to implement? Well, obviously we'd like them as quick as possible but we've got to ensure that we follow due process and that we consult well and we have the confidence of all Queenslanders to make sure that these changes are reflected on community expectations. Where are these 500 guns going a year in Queensland? Yeah, thank you. Firstly, can I just say that the 600,000 registered legal firearms in Queensland over the last five years the pattern of theft from those that block of 600,000 has fluctuated the best result we've ever had which is still not good is 350 that was stolen in a given year five years ago it was 350 then it went to 450 then back to about 350 and last year it was over 500 and obviously that increases in concern. The way we're tracking this year is that there'll be less stolen than there was last year so that's a good sign that it's tracking to come down. The question of course, your question was where do they go? They would go to several areas firstly there would be firearms enthusiasts probably who steal them and use them for their own purpose for example last week one of the firearms that was stolen was a 0.177 calibre air gun, air handgun that's the sort of thing that's used in competition shooting and whilst it's still a firearm it's far less serious than a heavy calibre firearm like a 357 or a 44 or something like those lines so that's one area that the most disturbing concerning area though is that they are used in crime now that's the most significant area in some cases we believe they're being stockpiled in other words people involved in organised criminal activity are stockpiling them for potential future use that's of concern for us but the greatest concern is where they're stolen and used in criminal activity sorry as the minister indicated sometimes these are opportunistic thefts they're thefts from a country property where the people are away perhaps for the holiday someone goes to break into the house to see what's there they're gun safe and they steal there's an opportunistic theft as well the home affairs minister suggested that our customs officers might be embedded in the New South Wales police force to deal with illegal firearms is there similar plans for the Queensland police to do the same? in his advice to us today the minister indicated three things that he wanted the first was that he with his colleagues would look at the legislation the second was to obviously maximise his interest in activity and the third thing he asked me to do which I will do is look at the national level of activity and make sure we're fully represented there so in answer to your question if the federal government came to us and said we'd like to have customs work more closely with the Queensland police in this space the minister agreed more than happy to do that are there a lot of firearms coming into Queensland via the post or means like that? I believe there will be some the work on this tends to suggest that far more are going into New South Wales than are coming into Queensland but obviously that observation is a reasonable estimation based on the intelligence and information that's available New South Wales police commissioner suggested Australia might be moving towards an American-style gun culture where people are just solving conflicts with handguns do you agree with that? I think that that is correct in terms of one of the disturbing things that we believe we're seeing is an escalation so that if someone involved in the illegal drug trade decides for whatever reason protection or enforcement illegally to carry a firearm and that becomes known within that culture of criminal activity then someone else might get one too so we're seeing that escalation I don't think though that we have any concern at all that we will go to a widespread gun culture because we simply don't have the same legislation framework that exists in the United States of America and in fact what's happened in Australia post Port Arthur is actually a winding back of the availability of firearms. Before Port Arthur the law across Australia was that if you were 17 years of age you could go into any store that sold firearms and merchandise stores like K-Mart used to sell firearms and you could buy a firearm now that's been completely wound back now so the world we're in at the moment is one where it's probably the most restrictive legislation in Australia we've ever seen but we're not talking about the many many people in Queensland here who legally own firearms and use them for genuine purpose what we're talking about here is the criminal element who legally acquire firearms and use them for criminal purposes Is there going to be any changes to the permits of the people who legally have them to try and stop this sort of crime? We'll be looking at from a legislative perspective all those issues but we'll be targeting the illegal use of firearm and I'll say again those people who are using whether it be sporting shooters from the agricultural sector, firearms in relation to those operations have nothing to worry about Could I add to that? Sorry could I just add to that because it's a really important point it's very very very rare that anyone who's the legal owner of a firearm uses that firearm in an offence that is very rare Commissioner Philip Savanga is that the paedophile who was released? Is that if I'm not too sure of the community he's living with his family is that appropriate given his criminal record and what he's perpetrated on children, should he be living in the community? That's a result of a court decision Pat That's a result of a court decision? Yes As you know it's never been my practice to criticise the courts I see my role as being responsible to you for running the police department and I'm not straight into the situation where I've been critical of court decisions Our job now is under the encore legislation the relevant legislation to be involved in monitoring this person and we will certainly undertake to do that Minister do you have any concerns? Look I've had a briefing from the commissioner of the corrective services this morning in relation to another a number of matters and part of that briefing was that one gentleman that you spoke of and it's addressing those concerns in the whole of the legislation of whilst they're in Do you think it's appropriate that he's in the community? There is a number of provisions in place in relation to meeting that standard and the operation of putting that person back within the community and at the present time those commitments are being met by corrective services and the other agencies to alleviate the concerns of any member of the community What are those commitments? Well I'm happy to get back to you Patrick in relation to the exact details but the corrective services commissioner has relieved those concerns in relation to all the administration and the practices are in place and are being followed to the T to ensure the best outcomes in relation to community service Mister then commissioner you're confident that you'll be able to protect him from the community there was any sort of amperage? Well as we do with all and core offenders we assess them in terms of their level of risk to the community and our response is based on our assessment of their level of risk to the community and we'll certainly do that in this case Mister then you see not so long ago you were Sergeant Walker the Vedin in Bundaberg how you're the commissioner's boss how does it feel? Look it's for me I'm very proud and honoured to be the minister for police and community safety and obviously ensuring that we maintain the high standards of a professional and accountable police service for as I said there before to meet the expectations of the community and I think Queensland is very privileged and honoured to have a commissioner such as Commissioner Bob Atkinson and you only have to look through the barriers that he's crossed over a period of times and the things that he's addressed in relation to recent tragedies with floods, the Malcolm incidents which continuing and so on to see that he has a great deal of respect to the community. Look it's a great privilege to work with the commissioner and a professional partnership and I look forward to working together as a team because one thing is very important it's about a teamwork and working together to get the best outcomes for all of Queensland. Commissioner was he a good sergeant? We never actually worked together when I was the commissioner the minister was the sergeant in charge of the police, he was the youth club at Bundaberg and he certainly had a good reputation in that regard and there's no difficulty associated with this at all for me I'm looking forward to working for and with the minister. We haven't finalised the documentation that we're going to provide to the minister on that it's a significant piece of work and I think it'll be at least another week maybe two weeks before we complete that because there are a number of aspects to it and as you would have seen again similar to the gun issue the aspect of police pursuits is not something that's confined to Queensland it's a challenging issue I've always said probably one of the most difficult areas of policing in terms of the judgment and decision making potential consequences that go with it but I would think at least a week maybe two weeks before we get that report to the minister. Minister how's your driving record? Look obviously I've got a zero driving record in relation to the fences and obviously part of the job is there is checks and balances put into place and I'm happy to have that go on any public record at any time if you necessitate that as well. Do you have pensions for anything else? Park and drive? No Patrick but it is it's part of being a community and getting on and getting on with the job. Thank you. When the minister's appointment was announced he asked me to check that he didn't have any traffic convictions and he does not I did that check on his behalf we don't check people specifically when they become ministers what we do do is put into place a security overlay for them in terms of a whole range of things where they work and where they live and that's appropriate that we do that. The identification of the other matters that came to light as part of doing that but we don't specifically probe and look into people's past. Do you find any of the comments of the man who was killed in a shooting at Bracken bridge yesterday? I'm shooting but he was shot by police are you concerned by some of the comments from his family members who have questioned the conduct of the police officers? Look that's a subject to an ongoing investigation and I can give you an absolute assurance that every one of those matters that's been raised will be part of the investigation and that will be something that will be considered by the coroner and that's not necessarily going to wait. The coroner is regularly briefed and updated on the status of the investigation so whilst it's public knowledge as well in terms of those claims all of that will be put before the coroner and obviously it will be quite wrong for me to comment in terms of the credibility or otherwise of those claims. All of that has got to be part of the investigation. It will be. We do this work for the coroner under the legislation but as well the CMC are involved in this investigation as well in an over viewing capacity. Is this review of the legislation and sentencing? Did that come about because of the two homicides and the police shooting or because the figures came to light this week? The intention of the minister and the new government to look at this issue is a matter that obviously for the minister and the new government but certainly that consideration of legislation is something that we in the police department would also strongly support. How's the investigation going into the two murders in any legislation? Well they're working very hard. We have large teams of detectives involved in both. There is still no indication although we never real anything out that there's any link between the two and we appeal to the public for information. Crime stoppers, 1800 triple three, triple zero and if you have any information even if you think it could possibly help. We urge and ask you to provide that information at this stage. There's been no breakthrough in either investigation. Anything else at all? Well look, thanks again for your time today and I greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much.