Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says audio secretly recorded inside a Brisbane watch house that reveals police and staff using racist slurs is "horrific" as the government receives the findings of an inquiry into police cultural issues.
Warning: This story includes racist and offensive language.
In the leaked audio, police and staff at the Brisbane watch house can be heard joking about "beating and burying" black people and raising fears that Australia would be "taken over" by a particular ethnic group.
The recordings were obtained by the Guardian from a whistleblower.
"I've heard certain excerpts … it is horrific," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Let me say very clearly that there is no place for people … for police officers to be racist in their language."
In one exchange an officer says, "Let's just hope Ebola works", in reference to population growth in Africa.
In a different discussion, another person, referring to protest groups, said: "If they let me loose at a protest, it would be very, very bad because I'd be skull-dragging them into a car and that is my definition of policing. Keep the peace."
It comes as the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Service (QPS) responses to domestic and family violence, before Judge Deborah Richards, hands its final report to the state government.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the recordings were submitted as evidence to the inquiry.
"It is absolutely unacceptable," Ms Fentiman told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"They're [the recordings] awful, they're disgusting … I think all Queenslanders would have that view.
"Clearly, there are some cultural issues within the Queensland Police [Service].
"There is no place for this sexism or racism … this is why we've had a commission of inquiry. I'm glad that those recordings and those statements have been considered by the commission of inquiry," she said.
A spokesperson for Police Minister Mark Ryan confirmed he had referred the recordings to the QPS and the Ethical Standards Command was conducting inquiries after the whistleblower sent the recordings to him.
'No place in society'
QPS Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler, whose portfolio takes in responsibility for state watch houses and custody matters, said the recordings were "sickening and disturbing".
"I want to apologise on behalf of the QPS for the deeply offensive remarks that were recently made public," he said.
"Those beliefs and remarks have no place in society, let alone in a professional workplace where vulnerable people are held in our custody.
"These matters are being taken seriously and the commissioner has made it very clear to all staff this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated."
Acting Deputy Commissioner Wheeler said the matter had been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
He said cultural issues were not widespread within the police force.
"We acknowledge that there are instances of appalling behaviour, appalling pockets of instances with culture that is just not acceptable," he said.
He said QPS Commissioner Katarina Carroll was "absolutely appalled" by the commentary.
'We can't solve this with minor reforms'
The leaked audio also includes a discussion between officers about Brisbane Greens councillor Jonathan Srirangathan's arrest at a refugee rights rally in 2020.
"He's a piece of s**t and a halfwit," an officer is heard saying.
Councillor Sriranganathan said the commentary was disturbing.
"They're the sorts of things you'd expect to hear at a Ku Klux Klan rally," Mr Sri said.
"When I was taken to the watch house … they treated me like scum.
"This is incredibly shocking stuff that points to a broader problem of systemic racism within the Queensland Police Service.
"We can't solve this with minor reforms or incremental tweaks, this is a structural problem that goes to the very rotten foundations of the Queensland Police Service.
"Why is senior police leadership allowing this to continue?"
Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said it was "clear that there is a pervasive cultural problem within the Queensland Police Service".
Inquiry findings handed to Queensland government
The commission of inquiry was examining whether cultural issues within the QPS were "negatively impacting" the handling of domestic and family violence cases and received more than 820 submissions, including 365 from current and former officers.
It heard shocking allegations of sexist, racist and homophobic behaviour by police, as well as alleged cases of rape, sexual harassment, assault and bullying in the ranks.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the inquiry said Commissioner Richards provided her final report to the premier, attorney-general and police minister earlier today.
Ms Fentiman said the report's findings would be considered by Queensland Cabinet ministers next Monday before being publicly released.
"We do have a huge task ahead of us culturally … within our Queensland Police Service," Ms Fentiman said
"It is all about tackling those underlying attitudes and behaviours that underpin the cycle of domestic and family violence."
