News of ‘donation tin’ patrols shocks Shadow Police Minister
Shadow Police Minister Dale Last
Shadow Police Minister Dale Last said it was shocking that Nambour business leaders felt they needed to “hand around the donation tin” in order to keep their streets safe.
The statement follows Reimagine Nambour’s open letter gauging interest from local businesspeople about paying for extra police patrols in the Nambour CBD.
The open letter comes amid safety concerns and seeks donations to fund two police officers to patrol the Nambour CBD.
Mr Last said the move represented a “shocking development in the Queensland crime crisis”.
“The Labor State Government’s crime crisis is so out of control, locals are now considering paying for basic policing services that everyone should be entitled to,” Mr Last said.
“Under Labor, if you are a business owner in Nambour you will get more police; but only if you pay for it.
“Labor is more concerned with how things look, than how they are.
“Just three months ago the Premier opened the new Nambour Police Station, yet here we have locals being requested to pay for police.
“The former LNP Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt fought hard for dedicated police on the beat in Nambour and even negotiated a free office space donated by a local landlord to be used as a police beat.
“A petition to the Parliament signed by over 2000 people in Nambour (in 2019) called for action by this Government which fell on deaf ears.
“After three terms in office the State Government has given up on listening.
“Nambour locals deserve better.”
Member for Nicklin responds
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said he was always open to people who had a valuable contribution to make.
“Unfortunately, the only track record the LNP have on crime is cutting senior police by a third and forcing police to buy their own equipment when last in government.
“Publicly available statistics show a continuing downward trend of crime in Nambour, in tandem with the rest of Queensland.
“We all need to work together to keep our community safe. Unproductive yelling from the sidelines does nothing to help our community.
“That’s why we’re continuing to invest in front line services and will continue to work with police and local small businesses to keep our community safe.”