A former Queensland deputy police commissioner who resigned after referring to his friend as a “vagina whisperer” at a policing conference is running for Cairns mayor.
Paul Taylor apologised in August 2022 for the lewd comment after it was aired during a commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic violence.
The inquiry heard Taylor referred to his friend, who was a gynaecologist and obstetrician, as a “vagina whisperer” at a formal policing conference attended by 100 senior officers four months earlier.
The state’s police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, told the inquiry Taylor was dealt with through “local managerial resolution” and she had personally counselled him.
Counsel assisting the commission, Ruth O’Gorman, asked Carroll: “There is a real risk, isn’t there … that the use of that language by such senior members in a formal setting does set a standard for those below them, constables and sergeants, who then might use disgusting language in their own stations?”
“Yes, it does,” Carroll responded.
Carroll later told the inquiry Taylor was facing a second separate complaint that could have led to his dismissal. The nature of the allegations was never revealed.
While announcing his resignation, Taylor said he was “deeply apologetic” for the harm his comments had caused and it was never his “intention” to offend anyone.
But former female members of the Queensland police service have expressed shock over Taylor’s decision to run for mayor.
“It certainly doesn’t send a good message for any form of government … as to tidying up or correcting the image of wanting to attract more women to politics, if that’s what they deemed to be appropriate,” one woman told Guardian Australia.
Another former officer said Taylor’s comment was not appropriate.
“There’s a reason you don’t see the CEOs of major corporate companies standing up in front of public forums making these comments,” another former officer said.
“Cairns is beautiful and the people of Cairns deserve better.”
Suzy, a Cairns local who requested her surname not be used due to her profession, said she was “appalled” by the comment.
“I wonder about the culture he will bring to Cairns,” she said.
But local anti-crime campaigner Perri Conti says Taylor has her vote.
“I don’t see what the big issue was about saying vagina whisperer. I think it’s stupid,” Conti said.
“Crime is a huge issue in Cairns and Paul is the only [candidate] that [has] addressed it … Him being an ex-police officer, he knows how it works.”
In a statement, Taylor told Guardian Australia he has “significant leadership experience through 45 years on the Queensland Police Service [QPS]”.
He did not directly respond to questions about the “vagina whisperer” comment but said his experience in QPS was built on “resilience, reliability and leadership”.
“I much prefer to look forward than backwards, having many memories from my time in the service,” he said.
“I have been a mentor to many young women and men throughout my career. I actively encouraged more women to enter the service and supported many female officers to advance to senior and executive positions.”
Taylor said if elected, he will hold an open forum on community safety within 100 days and establish an advisory committee “to report back on the community sentiment”.
“I will ensure strong levels of governance, transparency and accountability in council.”
