A Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into a bungled Queensland police station lease did not make findings of corruption but identified significant governance and control weaknesses, as the state's police minister says he thinks people need to be held accountable over a deal he called 'possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland'.
The lease at 433 Logan Road in Stones Corner was signed in 2023, committing the Queensland Police Service to about $116 million over 15 years, more than $500,000 a month. The building was later deemed unfit for use as a station and was never occupied.
The CCC investigation, released on Thursday, found a superintendent without significant commercial property experience had led negotiations for the lease. The building would have been significantly cheaper to buy outright, and the deal was signed without funding allocated for the purpose, the report said. It identified significant governance and control weaknesses but did not make findings of corruption.
Police Minister Dan Purdie spoke on Friday and blamed the former Labor government and now-opposition leader Steven Miles. 'We now know that is the worst deal in Queensland Police history, possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland,' he said. Purdie added: 'Queenslanders are left with this bill. Labor … need to own it now, and I still think people need to be held accountable.' The minister confirmed the government was exploring possible options to get out of the lease legally.
Acting police commissioner Brett Pointing apologised on Thursday, saying the QPS would accept all recommendations from the CCC. 'I think there are two groups of people that I'd like to apologise to,' he said. 'One is the Queensland community. This is a large waste of taxpayers' money. [The other is] the men and women of the QPS. That's a significant amount of money that I'd rather be spending on keeping the community safe.' Pointing did not reveal how a superintendent ended up negotiating the deal, and declined to say if heads would roll over the scandal.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The $116 million lease represents a substantial waste of public funds at a time when police resources are under scrutiny.
- The case highlights serious governance and oversight failures within the Queensland Police Service, raising questions about procurement and delegation of authority.
- Political fallout could influence accountability measures and calls for reform, with the minister pointing to the former Labor government and opposition leader Steven Miles.
Background
The lease for the Stones Corner building at 433 Logan Road was signed in 2023 by the Queensland Police Service, committing to about $116 million over 15 years. The building was later found unfit for purpose as a police station and was never occupied. The Crime and Corruption Commission began an investigation and released its findings on Thursday, citing governance and control weaknesses rather than corruption.
Key Perspectives
Police Minister Dan Purdie: Called the deal 'possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland' and blamed the former Labor government. He said people need to be held accountable and confirmed the government is exploring legal options to exit the lease.
Acting police commissioner Brett Pointing: Apologised to the Queensland community and QPS members, accepted all CCC recommendations, but did not say if anyone would face disciplinary action or how the superintendent came to lead negotiations.
What to Watch
- Whether the government can legally exit the lease and at what cost.
- Any further investigation or disciplinary action against the superintendent who led the negotiations.
- Political response from opposition leader Steven Miles and potential fallout ahead of the next state election.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline quotes the minister as saying people need to be held accountable.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Purdie added: “Queenslanders are left with this bill. Labor … need to own it now, and I still think people need to be held accountable.””
- SupportedThe CCC investigation found no corruption but identified significant governance and control weaknesses.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The investigation did not make findings of corruption, but identified significant governance and control weaknesses that led to the high-profile bungled agreement.”
- SupportedPurdie called it “possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The state’s police minister says he hopes people will be held accountable for “possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland”.”
- SupportedPurdie said, “We now know that is the worst deal in Queensland Police history, possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We now know that is the worst deal in Queensland Police history, possibly the worst deal for taxpayers in the history of Queensland,” he said.”
- SupportedThe lease committed QPS to about $116 million over 15 years, or more than $500,000 a month.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “In 2023 the Queensland Police Service committed to about $116 million in lease costs over 15 years – or more than $500,000 a month – for 433 Logan Road in Stones Corner”
- Partly supportedThe lease was signed in 2023.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “In 2023 the Queensland Police Service committed to about $116 million in lease costs over 15 years”
- SupportedThe building was found unfit for use as a station and was never occupied.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “which it later found was unfit for purpose as a station and never occupied.”
- SupportedA superintendent without significant commercial property experience led the lease negotiations.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “A Crime and Corruption Commission investigation released on Thursday found a superintendent without significant commercial property experience led negotiations”
- SupportedThe building would have been significantly cheaper to buy outright.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “when the building would have been significantly cheaper to buy outright.”
- SupportedThe lease was signed without funding allocated for the deal.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The lease for the Stones Corner building was signed without funding allocated for the deal.”
- SupportedPurdie framed the deal as the responsibility of the former Labor government and opposition leader Steven Miles.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Police Minister Dan Purdie spoke to reporters on Friday morning about the report, framing it as the responsibility of the former Labor government and now-opposition leader Steven Miles.”
- SupportedPointing said, “This is a large waste of taxpayers’ money.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““One is the Queensland community. This is a large waste of taxpayers’ money. “[The other is] the men and women of the QPS.”