The LNP Opposition has called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to come clean and reveal her plans for the Ipswich Police Communications Centre.
Shadow Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jarrod Bleijie said it had been four months since the Premier announced consultation on the centre’s proposed closure, but still hadn’t made a decision on whether to close it.
“To close the Ipswich Police Communications Centre would be a backwards step for the community and for emergency services in Queensland, but the Premier still won’t confirm the fate of the 27 employees whose jobs are at stake,” Mr Bleijie said.
“After pulling rank on the Police Minister and Commissioner, who said the centre was closing, the Premier needs to come out of hiding on this issue and tell the Ipswich Communications Centre employees whether or not they will have a job this Christmas.
“While this kind of indecision is what we’ve come to expect from Labor, it’s not good for the local employees, it’s not good for Ipswich and it’s holding Queensland back.”
Mr Bleijie said the Police Minister’s initial decision to close the communications centre, costing local jobs, was made without consultation and was another example of a Police Minister plagued in crisis.
“Labor spruiked about being pro jobs and consultation but they have failed on both fronts,” he said.
“The local Ipswich MPs had a chance to save the centre when LNP moved a motion in Parliament back in July calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to retain the centre in its current location.
“Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale slammed the proposed closure, which he said would jeopardise the good working relationship between Safe City, the police and communications that has proved to help bring the crime rate down.
“Labor has failed to act in the best interests of the Ipswich community and the Premier still won’t say if employees will have a Christmas reprieve.
“If this centre is closed, people will lose their jobs and the people of Ipswich will be left without a local centre that has the ability to control emergency responses at a local level.
“Queenslanders didn’t vote for this.”
[ENDS] 20 November 2015
