NEWMAN WRONG TO APPOINT ARMY MATE TO LEAD BIKIE CRACKDOWN.

Media Release.

The secret appointment of an old army mate to lead the bikie crackdown shows Campbell Newman has no faith in his senior colleagues says Shadow Police Minister Bill Byrne.

“The revelation that the Premier’s former commanding officer is in control of the anti-bikie strategy is a massive vote of no confidence in Police Minister Jack Dempsey, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie and the Deputy Commissioner hand-picked to co-ordinate the crackdown on outlawed motorcycle gangs,” he said.

“Former Brigadier Bill Mellor has no qualifications for the role he’s been given and no policing experience."

“What an insult to the Premier’s Cabinet colleagues and Queensland’s senior police officers."

“It can only mean that the Premier has lost faith in leadership within the QPS.”

Mr Byrne said the Premier must explain how the retired Brigadier, previously employed by the Premier to run the floods reconstruction program in southern Queensland, was appointed and how much he is being paid.

“This appointment reeks of ‘jobs for the boys’ favouritism."

“The Premier must justify the appointment and explain why he needs someone to fulfil this role when he has so many experienced senior police officers that could do the job and Ministers who should be capable of co-ordinating a whole of government response to organised crime."

“The Newman Government is attempting to hide behind the Anzac legend as cover for some of its failings like introducing rushed and error-strewn legislation and the scatter-gun police response which has seen senior officers call for more training to identify bikies and threats to sack officers who don’t take appropriate action."

“As the co-owner of a company which supplies security products Brigadier Mellor has business interests which raise questions about perceptions of a conflict of interest."

“The company, IPS Securex, was caught up in a procurement scandal in Singapore. It is a serious error of judgement by the Premier,” he said.