Friday 6 November, Power & Policy

Story one of ten today, about seven minutes for the lot

Modern multi-story commercial building with curved architecture, street-level retail, and white vehicle on left-hand road
✓ The Sydney Morning HeraldPower & Policy1 min read

Queensland Police paid about $116m lease on building it never used

A Queensland Police lease will cost about $116 million for a building that was never used.

The Queensland Police Service agreed to lease a property on Logan Road in Stones Corner. The lease costs about $116 million over 15 years.

Police pay more than $500,000 each month. The building was later found unsuitable and never used.

A Crime and Corruption Commission investigation released Thursday found a superintendent without significant property experience led the negotiations. Buying the building would have cost much less.

Police had not secured funding before signing the contract. The investigation found weak governance and control but made no findings of corruption.

Police Minister Dan Purdie called it possibly the worst deal for Queensland taxpayers in history. Acting Police Commissioner Brett Pointing apologised.

He said the money would have been better spent on public safety.

$116 million
Total lease cost
15 years
Lease term
$500,000
Monthly cost
433 Logan Road, Stones Corner
Location

Why it mattersThe waste shows governance failures. It raises questions about accountability in government contracts.

AustraliaQueensland taxpayers are carrying a $116 million bill for a police building that was never used.

Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au

✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago

Open this story in InSnip

The other nine are in the app.

Today's ten in a swipe, offline, and it ends. Free.

  • Deep diveFollow a story beat by beat, and see how it actually unfolded.
  • Ask the storyAsk a question about any story and get an answer built from its own sources.
  • Your library, keptYour streak and everything you saved, kept together on your phone.
Get InSnip free →
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Or read the other nine in the browser →

That is one of today's ten.

The rest takes about seven minutes, and then you are done for the day.

Read the other nine →

Free, no account needed. Australian news, every claim sourced.

Tomorrow's edition, 7am

The day's stories in one free email. No noise, unsubscribe anytime.

One email a day. Pure signal, no noise.

More Power & Policy on InSnip →

Today's Daily Brief: ten stories, about seven minutes →

InSnip, free on your phone

QR code linking to https://insnip.com/get

Point a camera at the code and the right store opens.insnip.com/get

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
The other nine are in the appFree, offline, ends at ten Get the app