Hearings

Public hearings were held in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Mount Isa between 11 July and 7 October 2022.

The hearings were open to the public and were livestreamed from this website. The hearings provided the community an opportunity to see and hear witnesses giving evidence to the Commission and also provided an opportunity for that evidence to be tested by the parties who have been given leave to appear at the hearings.

You can:

read transcripts of the hearings
download the exhibits tendered during the hearings
view recordings of Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll's evidence from the public hearing held on Thursday 18 August, Wednesday 5 October, and Thursday 6 October 2022.

Week one

Brisbane—hearings took place from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 July 2022 in Court 17, level 4, Brisbane Magistrates Court, 363 George Street, Brisbane.

Date	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Monday 11 July	Brian Codd	Assistant Commissioner Queensland Police Service	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV
	Ben Martain	Chief Superintendent Queensland Police Service	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV
	Neil Gardner	Sergeant Queensland Police Service	Operation of the Vulnerable Persons Unit
	Elise Feltham	Sergeant Queensland Police Service	Operation of the Vulnerable Persons Unit
Tuesday 12 July	Mark Kelly	Acting Assistant Commissioner Queensland Police Service	DFV training for police officers
	Mel Dwyer	Acting Inspector Queensland Police Service	DFV training
	Andrew Sinclair-Ford	Constable Queensland Police Service	DFV training for recruits
	Kate Gersekowski	Constable Queensland Police Service	DFV training for recruits
	Andrea Hughes	Constable Queensland Police Service	DFV training for first year constables
	Tammie Robinson	Senior Constable Queensland Police Service	DFV training for general duties officers
Wednesday 13 July	Witness A	Senior Constable Queensland Police Service	Cultural issues within the QPS relating to the investigation of DFV
Wednesday 13 July	James Treanor	Retired police officer	Cultural issues within the QPS relating to the investigation of DFV
Thursday 14 July	Paul Trinder	Sergeant Queensland Police Service	Cultural issues within the QPS relating to the investigation of DFV
	Audra Pollard	Retired police officer	Cultural issues within the QPS relating to the investigation of DFV
	Danielle Hulin	Sergeant, PPC Queensland Police Service	Police practices and procedures in relation to DFV prosecutions
	Michael Read	Sergeant, PPC Queensland Police Service	Police practices and procedures in relation to DFV prosecutions

Week two

Cairns—hearings took place on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July 2022 in the Cairns Magistrates Court, 5D Sheridan Street, Cairns.

Townsville—hearings took place on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 July 2022 in the Townsville Magistrates Court, 31 Walker St, Townsville.

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Monday 18 July Cairns	Kerry Johnson	Superintendent, First Nations and Multicultural Affairs Unit Queensland Police Service	Role of First Nations and Multicultural Affairs Unit First Nations Police Officers – numbers, recruitment and challenges Role, recruitment and training of Cross-Cultural Liaison Officers Role, recruitment and training of Police Liaison Officers Observations and experiences of QPS interactions and relationships with First Nations Queenslanders, challenges and opportunities
	Jacquelin Honeywood	Acting Inspector, First Nations and Multicultural Affairs Unit Queensland Police Service	Role, recruitment and training of Police Liaison Officers Induction information for officers transferring to non-urban areas Observations and experiences of QPS interactions and relationships with First Nations Queenslanders, challenges and opportunities
	Amit Singh	Officer in Charge, Aurukun Queensland Police Service	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in remote communities including Aurukun
	Anthony Moynihan	Detective Senior Sergeant, Torres Strait Queensland Police Service	Observations and experiences as a QPS Officer in the Torres Strait
	Elsie Nona	Police Liaison Officer, Torres Strait Queensland Police Service	Observations and experiences as a Police Liaison Officer in the Torres Strait
Tuesday 19 July Cairns	Lisa Buchanan	Police Prosecutor, Cairns Queensland Police Service	Police practices and procedures in relation to DFV prosecutions, including in remote and regional communities
	Hayley Grainger	Principal Lawyer, Cairns North Queensland Women’s Legal Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence
	Thelma Schwartz	Principal Legal Officer, Cairns Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence
	Witness B	Chief Executive Officer, Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence
Wednesday 20 July - no hearings
Thursday 21 July Townsville	Paul Taylor	Deputy Commissioner, Regional Queensland, Queensland Police Service	Structure of the Central, Northern and Far northern regions of the QPS Regional postings within the QPS Training and induction of QPS members prior to postings in regional Queensland, including any cultural awareness training Role, recruitment and training of Police Liaison Officers in regional Queensland
	Zak Holliday	Constable Queensland Police Service	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer who has recently completed the First Year Constable Program
	Jordan Theed	Police Prosecutor, Townsville Queensland Police Service	Observations and experiences as a Police Prosecutor involved in domestic and family violence matters Operation of the specialist domestic and family violence court Engagement of parties in Court processes Prosecution discretion to vary orders or conditions
Friday 22 July Townsville	Cathy Pereira	Principal Solicitor and Co-ordinator, Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence matters
	Florence Onus	Community Development Worker, Palm Island Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence matters
	Andrea Kyle Sailor	Community Development Worker, Palm Island Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Service	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence matters
	Karl McKenzie	Townsville Justice Group	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence matters

Week three and four

Brisbane—hearings for weeks three and four took place at the Land Court of Queensland, Brisbane Magistrates Court, Level 8/362 George Street, Brisbane.

Week 3 - Monday 25 July to Friday 29 July 2022

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Monday 25 July	Karyn Walsh	Chief Executive Officer Micah Projects	Micah Project’s clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Emma Wilson	Vulnerable Persons Unit and Brisbane Domestic Violence Service	Micah Projects’ involvement in High Risk Teams and Vulnerable Persons Units
	Jacelyn Parsons	Social worker, Victim of Crime Program WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association	WWILD’s clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Di Mahoney	Acting CEO Brisbane Youth Service	BYS’ clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Cybele Koning	Chief Executive Officer Caxton Legal Centre	Caxton Legal Centre’s clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Ben Bjarnesen	Founder and Managing Director LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation	Experiences of LGBTQ+ persons of domestic and family violence, and QPS responses to it
	Ellie Hansson	Solicitor LGBTI Legal Service Inc	Experiences of LGBTQ+ persons of domestic and family violence, and QPS responses to it
Tuesday 26 July	Nadia Bromley	Chief Executive Officer Women’s Legal Service	Women’s Legal Service’s clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Debbie Hewitt	Solicitor Women’s Legal Service	Women as Respondents legal service offered by the Women’s Legal Service
	Betty Taylor	Chief Executive Officer Red Rose Foundation	The Red Rose Foundation’s clients’ experiences of QPS responses to domestic and family violence
	Joanna Mason	Resound advocate and consultant	The role for victim survivor advocacy as part of police training; and consultation undertaken of women’s experiences of Queensland Police Service investigations into domestic and family violence
	Dan Haberland	Acting Senior Sergeant, Officer-in-Charge Yarrabah Police Station	Observations and experiences of Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence
Wednesday 27 July	Mark Ainsworth	Consultant	Results of his interviews with Queensland Police Service officers about cultural issues relating to the investigation of domestic and family violence
	Toni Bell	Director, Family Law and Civil Justice Services, Legal Aid Queensland	Legal Aid Queensland’s clients’ experiences and observations of QPS cultural issues relating to the investigation of domestic and family violence
	Dr Brian Sullivan	Academic and educator in the domestic violence sector	Men’s Domestic Violence Intervention Programs
Thursday 28 July	Heather Douglas	Professor Melbourne Law School	2015-18 study of Queensland victim survivor experiences, so far as it relates to QPS responses to domestic and family violence; and best practice policing responses to domestic and family violence
	Silke Meyer	Leneen Forde Chair in Child and Family Research Griffith University	Cultural issues that negatively affect police investigations of domestic and family violence; cultural issues contributing to the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system; and recommendations to improve police responses to domestic and family violence
	Marlene Longbottom	Associate Professor Ngarruwan Ngadju First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Research Centre School of Medicine, Indigenous, Allied Health Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health University of Wollongong	The cultural issues within the QPS that negatively affect police investigations of DFV and the capacity/capability of QPS to respond to DFV as it relates to First Nations people.
Friday 29 July	Lewis Shillito	Director of Criminal Law, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services	ATSILS’ experience of police investigating and prosecuting domestic violence matters
	Heather Nancarrow	Adjunct Professor of Practice Monash University	Recognising the person most in need of protection; challenges relating to identifying that person; factors leading to police misidentification of the perpetrator; recommendations for improvement
	Jacqueline Drew	Senior Lecturer School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University	Compassion fatigue training and supervision best practice for law enforcement agencies, and QPS research project in relation to employee health, wellbeing and performance
	Dr Kyllie Cripps	Associate Professor of Law, University of New South Wales	Integrated service model responses to address family violence in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
	Andrea Phelps	Professor Phoenix Australia	Trauma and first responders; compassion fatigue training and supervision best practice for law enforcement agencies

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Monday 1 August	David Nixon	Detective Inspector Ethical Standards Command	Current QPS conduct and complaints handling processes, as outlined in the Ethical Standards Command statements and attachments.
Monday 1 August	Elizabeth Foulger	Executive Director of Integrity Services Crime and Corruption Commission	CCC involvement in QPS conduct and complaints handling processes, as outlined in statement and attachments.
Tuesday 2 August	Tim Prenzler	Professor School of Law and Criminology, University of the Sunshine Coast	Current conduct and complaints handling processes in Queensland; comparison with different models
Tuesday 2 August	Michael Maguire	Adjunct professor School of Social Sciences, Monash University	Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland (PONI) model for police conduct and complaints handling processes
Wednesday 3 August	No hearing Wednesday 3 August
Thursday 4 August	Brian Codd	Assistant Commissioner, QPS	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV and cultural issues within the QPS in relation to DFV
	Brendan McMahon	Retired QPS Officer	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in remote communities, and as the Senior Government Coordinator for Aurukun
	Matt Costelloe	Sergeant Shift Supervisor, Cunnamulla, QPS	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in regional communities
	Anita Wharton	Coordinator, Far West Indigenous Family Violence Service, Cunnamulla Primary Health Care Centre	The impact of positive police relationships in First Nations communities and recommendations for specific collaboration in relation to domestic and family violence responses The importance of community-based policing responses, and close working relationships with community organisations
	Emma Reilly	Former First Nations Multicultural Affairs Unit and Officer in Charge at Mornington Island, QPS	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in remote communities
Friday 5 August	Professor Chelsea Watego	Institute for Collaborative Race Research	The ways structural and political dynamics can impact judicial and other forms of official decision making, including, but not limited to, the QPS. The ways race, racism, colonialism and Aboriginal sovereignty intersect in the areas of justice and policy.
	Dr David Singh
	Dr Elizabeth Strakosch
	Brett Jackson	Acting Inspector, Logan, QPS	Policing DFV initiatives in Logan
	Teressa Tapsell	First Nations Multicultural Affairs Unit	Role, recruitment and training of Police Liaison Officers
	Cheryl Scanlon	Assistant Commissioner of Police Ethical Standards Command	Current QPS conduct and complaints handling processes, as outlined in the ESC statements and attachments
	Mark Kelly	Acting Assistant Commissioner, QPS	DFV training for police officers

Week five

Mount Isa—hearings took place on Monday 8 August (from midday) and Tuesday 9 August (from 10am) 2022 at Mount Isa Court House, 7A Isa Street, Mount Isa.

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Monday 8 August From midday	Shane Smith	Officer in Charge, Burketown, QPS	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in remote communities including in a single-officer station
	Laurie Bateman	Constable, District Prime Prevention Coordinator, Charleville, QPS	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer in regional communities
	Nikita Sellin	CEO and Senior Lawyer, Junkuri Laka, Mount Isa	Observations and experiences of QPS investigations of domestic and family violence
Tuesday 9 August From 10am	Keri Tamwoy	Mayor Aurukun Shire Council	Observations and experiences of Queensland Police Services responses to domestic and family violence in Aurukun
	Katrina Rapson	Police Liaison Officer, Normanton, QPS	Observations and experiences as a Police Liaison Officer in Normanton
	Aimee Sewell	Youth Club Manager, PCYC, Mount Isa	PCYC engagement and youth programs
	Michael Festing	Senior Constable, Mt Isa, QPS	Observations and experiences as a QPS officer with 5 years experience

18 August, 2022

Brisbane—Land Court of Queensland, Brisbane Magistrates Court, Level 8/362 George Street, Brisbane.

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
Thursday 18 August	Katarina Carroll	Commissioner, Queensland Police Service	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV and cultural issues within the QPS in relation to DFV
Thursday 18 August	Leon Allen	Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury	Funding models for the Queensland Police Service in relation to DFV

A recording of Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll’s evidence is available.

22 August, 2022

Brisbane—Court 23, Brisbane Magistrates Court, George Street, Brisbane.

Review the transcript.

5 – 7 October, 2022

Brisbane—Courtroom 34, Brisbane Magistrates Court, 363 George Street, Brisbane.

Date and location	Witness name	Title and organisation	Topic
10am, Wednesday 5 October	Katarina Carroll	Commissioner, Queensland Police Service	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV and cultural issues within the QPS in relation to domestic and family violence
9.30am, Thursday 6 October	Katarina Carroll	Commissioner, Queensland Police Service	Capability, capacity and structure of the QPS to respond to DFV and cultural issues within the QPS in relation to domestic and family violence
10am, Friday 7 October	Ian Leavers	General President, Queensland Police Union of Employees (QPUE)	Role and responsibilities of the QPUE and cultural issues within the QPS in relation to domestic and family violence

Last reviewed: 7 October, 2022
Last updated: 25 November, 2022