Police union has questions to answer on loan for DV accused: minister

The decision of Queensland’s police union executive to approve a $10,000 loan to help fund the legal defence of a member accused of domestic violence has been described as inappropriate by the minister, who has called on the union to answer questions.

Police Minister Dan Purdie told reporters on Tuesday he had seen the reporting by Nine News on the matter, which he said he believed would leave anyone who saw it thinking the action was “not appropriate and … not good enough”.

“I think there’s questions to answer, and I think someone really needs to answer those questions on behalf of Queenslanders,” Purdie said when pressed on whether the union’s president, Shane Prior, needed to front media to explain the decision.

The detail, and Purdie’s intervention, comes as the union prepares for a vote on the president role early next year, to which Prior ascended in mid-2024 when his predecessor, Ian Leavers, was appointed as the state’s first Cross-Border Commissioner.

Nine News reported on Monday night Prior had used his casting vote as president to break a 5-5 split of the union’s 10-person executive to approve an April loan application to its benevolent fund, usually used for accidents, illness, or financial hardship.

The male officer had earlier sought assistance, for outstanding and anticipated legal costs associated with the matter, through the union’s legal defence funding – which was knocked back because rules do not allow its use for domestic violence matters.

He had been accused of punching and stalking his partner, but had not been charged. The officer was, however, issued with a temporary Police Protection Notice, which required a court appearance.

In a statement provided to Nine, a union spokesperson said every application for support through the fund was “assessed on its individual merits” and the decision was “considered and voted upon by every member of the union executive and approved by a majority”.

Backers of a rival of Prior’s heading into the leadership contest, Senior Sergeant John Lewis, were reportedly behind some of the anonymous comments to Nine News critical about the decision – which has also been panned by a sector body.

Centre for Women and Co chief executive Stacey Ross said: “It is so disappointing that a leader at that level has made this decision.”

Prior has been contacted for further comment.

Previously the union’s vice president, he faced member unrest last year after striking an in-principle wage deal with government and an advertising campaign paid for by the union which called for domestic violence to become a stand-alone crime.

In 2021, Prior faced criticism for labelling leading women’s safety groups “the DV industry”. The union, which counts most of the state’s more than 13,000 officers among its membership, holds significant political sway for its proximity to community crime concerns.

Leavers, who was found dead in his home under non-suspicious circumstances in November 2025, had also often faced pushback for his public commentary around issues such as domestic violence and the state’s since-dumped Path to Treaty.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.