Queensland Police are facing challenges with a substantial number of their vehicles, reportedly valued at $8 million, that have been left idle for extended periods due to delays in equipping them with essential features like radios, lights, and branding. According to the Queensland Police Union president, Shane Prior, some of these vehicles have been awaiting upgrades in a depot for as long as four years.
Despite being delivered as far back as 2021, many of these units remain unprepared for frontline service, and concerns are mounting regarding the management of taxpayers’ money. Prior emphasised the urgency for improvements in the process, highlighting that the lengthy delays not only eliminate warranties on the vehicles but also pose workplace health and safety risks. Reports indicate that these vehicles have been left on flat tyres and even become homes for vermin during their time in storage.
Recent observations by 9News revealed various new Land Cruisers with registrations set to expire soon. Disturbingly, officers are still operating vehicles that have significantly exceeded the standard replacement policy of 100,000 kilometres, with some cars racking up over 250,000 kilometres and a prisoner van in Caboolture reaching more than half a million kilometres.
In response to these issues, Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy stated that a backlog had been acknowledged and addressed since May, and a working group has been established to monitor the situation. The group meets weekly to ensure that the vehicles are deployed to the frontline as quickly as possible, aiming to mitigate the risks posed by the current inadequate fleet status.