David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Wide Bay and fellow former Queensland police officer, Llew O'Brien. I am honoured to speak after all the others who have spoken in this chamber from all sides of the parliament who either have been police officers or are supporting police right across Australia. I note that Police Week will be held across Australia this month and will conclude on National Police Remembrance Day, on Monday 29 September 2025.

I begin by expressing my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues mourning the tragic and senseless deaths of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, murdered in the line of duty. They were two respected police officers killed in Porepunkah, Victoria. One was a keen traveller on secondment and the other was a senior colleague nearing retirement.

At times of tragedy, we throw assistance around those who need it most, and so we should, but we must give police officers more support all the time, every day. Those who are serving and those who have served deserve better. Being a police officer at any level is a tough job, and it's getting harder. The thin blue line is getting thinner. I spent 23 years as a copper. In my time in the Queensland Police Service, I served in uniform and as a detective. Recognising the hardships of those I worked alongside, I became a police union representative for a 14-year period. I also volunteered as a peer support officer for over 10 years, helping officers and their families in times of need. Close friends of mine have lost their lives. A former partner, while conducting a raid, was accidentally shot by a police firearm. His life was lost. In a shooting in my home town of Bundaberg, an armed suspect died. Police officers have to live with that trauma. Yes, I have friends, colleagues, who have taken their own lives while serving, and also those who haven't been able to deal with the memories that haunted them years after they left the force.

Today I renew calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the police recruitment and retention crisis because if there is no swift action, more lives will be lost. How on Earth will we attract anyone to join that thin blue line? When the Police Federation of Australia calls for fringe benefit tax concessions for police officers, we must listen. When there are proposals put forward to consider the introduction of a blue card to cover medical and allied health services like the ones afforded to members of the Australian Defence Force, we must assess. When there are requests for early access to superannuation for police officers, recognising the significant physical and mental demands placed on them throughout their careers, we must give this the consideration it deserves. I don't want to lose any more friends. In addition, while I have the privilege of being able to speak in this chamber on behalf of police officers from across Australia and their families and friends, I believe we should take another important step. The parliamentary inquiry should include a full review of police suicides of serving and retired officers across Australia. Let us find a way to invest properly in mental health support for police, and not only while they are serving; let's have meaningful support services and networks in place once they have left the force.

In support of the motion from the federal member for Wide Bay, I also take this opportunity to commend the work of Police Legacy. I had a great friend and mentor who was taken too soon, Peter Edwards, a detective sergeant from the Bundaberg criminal investigation branch. Peter died from a brain tumour. He left behind four children and his wife, Debbie. While his colleagues, as they always do, wrap their arms around Pete's family, it was Police Legacy that assisted his family with financial support, even helping with school and university fees for all four of his children.

I support the call to acknowledge the role and service of police officers in our communities. Let us honour the lives of those police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and not forget those who have suffered injury. To the police officers keeping us safe in my electorate of Hinkler and right across this nation, thank you for your support, courage and bravery. Thank you for your dedicated service. We must do better for you. I have been to far too many police funerals. Let's make a difference now before it's too late.

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