Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Qld DV survivor calls out police inaction

A Queensland domestic violence survivor whose address was leaked to her allegedly violent ex-partner says the officer responsible should have been sacked.

December 2, 2019

A domestic violence survivor says the Queensland police commissioner should have sacked a senior constable for leaking her address to her allegedly violent former partner.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, says she had hoped the newly appointed Commissioner Katarina Carroll would take a stand against violence against women.

“It’s disgraceful (she) is not taking a stand against domestic violence and (she is) certainly not taking a stand to show other QPS members that this is not permitted,” she told reporters on Monday.

The woman made her comments outside the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where the Queensland Police Service asked for more time to appeal an earlier finding it was liable for the privacy breach because it miscalculated the date it was due.

The hearing to consider the application for a time extension was brought forward at short notice on Friday to accommodate QPS lawyer Scott McLeod QC, which the woman said left her feeling bullied because she doubted she would be shown the same leniency.

“I think that was a deliberate miscalculation so they could further delay the matter and add to the level of abuse that I’ve been suffering through this whole ordeal,” she said.

“It’s clearly not a fair system … there’s a complete power imbalance and having to go up against a QC and being self-represented is really difficult.”

The woman said she wanted the matter to be over so she could move on and couldn’t understand why the police were fighting the finding against them “when they clearly did the wrong”.

“I had to relocate on two separate occasions because of the breach … that has led to extensive costs moving a family of five,” she said.

“No normal person should be living life as I do.”

The woman also blasted the move of now-suspended senior constable Neil Punchard to appeal the severity of his wholly suspended two-month jail sentence after he was convicted of nine counts of computer hacking.

“The punishment should have been more severe … he really should be behind bars,” she said.

QPS said has sought further legal advice on the status of Punchard and does not dispute that the officer engaged in the conduct outlined in QCAT.

“The commissioner expects the highest standards of its members particularly when it relates to the inappropriate or unlawful access or release of information,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

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