THE Mount Isa Police communications centre cannot be moved to Townsville until consultation is made with the Queensland Police Service and the Together Queensland Industrial Union.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Wednesday, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission decided further discussions had to be made with unions and the QPS had to be made through the Agency Consultative Committee before Friday, July 31.
These same rulings were also made for the Ipswich and Innisfail centres, which the government intended on closing.
On the same day, Mount Isa Police District Superintendent Russell Miller met with the city councillors in a meeting closed to the public about the local police communication centre.
Mount Isa mayor Tony McGrady said the superintendent was confirming facts about the closures, which may not have been true in political discussions.
The council had noted reported arguments between Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller, which media had compared to gang fighting in musical West Side Story.
“We do not want to be embroiled with a situation like that,” Councillor McGrady said.
The council moved a motion ask Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to intervene in the decision to move the telecommunications centre from the Mount Isa Police Station.
The motion asked the Premier to give Mount Isa the same opportunities it gave to Ipswich.
Last week the Premier announced that further consultation was needed before the Ipswich Communications Room was closed.
Cr McGrady said he would not discuss further details about the closure of the Mount Isa telecommunications centre or what the superintendent spoke about.
“What is said in the closed session stays in the closed session,” he said.
Superintendent Miller could not be reached for comment.
Together union secretary Alex Scott said QPS had agreed to consult further with union representatives if other communications centres were to close.