Ministerial Statements - Taskforce Maxima

May 24, 2017

Our police right across Queensland are working relentlessly to tackle all forms of serious organised crime in their communities and our government supports their outstanding efforts. The Palaszczuk government has continued to work hard to provide our police with the resources and tough laws needed to get those involved in all forms of serious organised crime off our streets.

Last month I announced that Taskforce Maxima will be established as a permanent unit within the Organised Crime Gangs Group in the Queensland Police. Under those opposite, Taskforce Maxima was a temporary unit. Under us, it is a permanent unit. Just like our resolve to tackle all forms of organised crime here in Queensland, it is a permanent focus of our government. Under the new Organised Crime Gangs Group staffing numbers will increase and there will be a surge capacity for the Queensland Police Service to respond as circumstances demand. I am happy to say that from 1 May 2017 the new Organised Crime Gangs Group has been up and running and is already achieving outstanding results. Due to Taskforce Maxima’s relentless pursuit, the number of OMCGs in Queensland has almost halved. Patched OMCG membership has plunged from 1,158 in late 2013 to 695 as of last week, down— Honourable members interjected.

It is down to 695 as of last week and the advice I have from the Queensland Police Service is that number continues to reduce. As well as that, 179 members have formally disassociated themselves from their gangs. Taskforce Maxima detectives report that when compared to other states, public violence involving crime gangs in Queensland is lower. The Palaszczuk government has introduced the toughest and most effective laws in the nation that are working and deal with all forms of serious organised crime in our state. We committed an additional $20 million over four years for the Queensland Police Service to specifically target serious organised crime in our state. We continue to be focused on disrupting and dismantling outlaw motorcycle gangs. We are also committed to eliminating all forms of horrific serious organised crime in our state. We introduced tough new laws to tackle child exploitation material on the internet and target those who use technology to promote and distribute offending material and conceal their offending. Our government backed up those new, tough, successful laws with more police, more resources and cutting-edge technology. The Palaszczuk government will always put the safety of Queenslanders and our front-line men and women who serve them first.