LABOR’S NEGLECT OF OUR POLICE FORCE MAKES COMMUNITY LESS SAFE

Deborah Morris MLA

Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Community Safety

Shadow Minister for Corrections

Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence

Media Statement

12 March 2025

The ACT Government must urgently provide ACT Policing with a safe and fit-for-purpose working environment to ensure our police can get on with the job of keeping our community safe, Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Community Safety Deborah Morris MLA said. 

It follows reports that the City Police Station has once again been contaminated by raw sewerage, with faeces and urine seeping through the building walls overnight. The Australian Federal Police Association is urging police officers to vacate the City Station for their safety.

“All Canberrans deserve to be safe, including our police officers who put their lives on the line everyday for the sake of our community,” Mrs Morris said.

“I’m sure if Andrew Barr and the Police Minister had raw sewerage leaking into their offices, it would be urgently dealt with once and for all. It’s disgraceful that such a different standard is being applied to our police officers who do so much for our community.

“Instead, for years the ACT Government has forced our police officers to do their job at police stations across Canberra that have been subjected to raw sewerage leaks, flooding, and exposure to toxic contaminants including lead and diesel particulates.

“I can’t imagine the impact these substandard, and arguably non-human rights compliant working conditions would be having on staff morale and the ability of police to swiftly respond to incidents of crime.

“The ACT Government must act urgently to provide our police with safe and fit-for-purpose facilities so they can get on with the job of keeping our community safe,” Mrs Morris said.