Communications Officer's Report

Kieran Banks Communications Officer

The Queensland Police Union has helped my family in the past and I feel I can return some of the goodwill my family has towards the police force by effectively raising the issues you face and sharing the good work you do.

Taking on the role of Communications Officer for the NT Police Association oddly seemed like one I was destined to do.

I spent the majority of my 15-year career in journalism covering crime and issues within the police force in the Northern Territory and Queensland. I have spent the past six years at the NT News in various roles including covering the crime round, Chief of Staff and Deputy Editor. But my links to members working on the front line go deeper with my two brothers currently in the Queensland Police in South-East Queensland. I have seen and heard many firsthand stories through my time as a journalist and speaking with my brothers about the difficult and confronting tasks police officers have to undertake.

While I have not lived these experiences myself, I have an understanding of the emotional highs and lows police officer’s experience. From delivering devastating news of a death to loved ones to copping abuse from selfentitled drunks in entertainment districts, life as a police officer is demanding and challenging. There are a lot of the heroic and selfless aspects of your work performed each shift the general public are unaware of. These are the moments of instinctive action which can prevent a tragedy or bring a criminal to justice. They can often go unseen and unrewarded.

The Queensland Police Union has helped my family in the past and I feel I can return some of the goodwill my family has towards the police union by effectively raising the issues you face and sharing the good work you do. I hope to give your stories and concerns a voice which can be amplified to thousands of people, including those who make decisions. extra responsibility to your workload it’s important to remember the overwhelming majority of the law-abiding Territory public remain staunch supporters of your efforts. It’s clear from the reactions on talk back radio the public understand how much of a strain the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirements to enforce border restrictions and Chief Health Officer directions have placed on resources. Hopefully as vaccination rates around the country continue to rise, the impact of the pandemic in 2022 will be considerably less than the previous two years.