Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, has resorted to using the Government Information (Public Access) Act, to seek information into the findings of an investigation set up in response to racist and sexist abuse of her by members of the NSW Police.

The Greens wish new Police Commissioner Mick Fuller well in his new role leading the NSW Police Force.

The NSW Police Force is well overdue for fresh leadership, with poor succession planning by the Coalition as well as  infighting and internal disputes amongst senior police overshadowing the broader work of frontline police for too long.

More community members have been aggressively handled and violently arrested at Sydney Park as peaceful protests against WestConnex continue. The use of force and the subsequent charges laid show that the police are using the powers of the Baird Government’s new draconian anti-protest laws.

NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, says:

“I have serious concerns about the level of police aggression and violence that’s occurred in recent days at Sydney Park.

“Local police, the riot squad and plainclothes police - some wearing leather gloves and refusing to display their name badge - have used disproportionate force against peaceful community members showing their opposition to WestConnex.

MEDIA RELEASE - April 14, 2016

The Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has welcomed today’s statement from the Police Integrity Commission announcing Operation Colchester, which will investigate the matters referred to them in relation to reports that serving members of the NSW Police Force engaged in online racist and sexist harassment of Ms Leong as a Member of Parliament.

“After being presented with evidence that suggested that several employees of the NSW Police Force had posted offensive racist and sexist comments about me on facebook, we referred the matter to the Police Integrity Commission.

“We welcome the commitment from the Police Integrity Commission to investigate whether there has been any police misconduct. This is a very serious matter and we are pleased to see it is being responded to accordingly.

“Our office will work with the Police Integrity Commission and assist with its investigations as required.

“While the investigation is being undertaken, we will not be commenting further on this matter specifically. However, we will continue our work representing the people of the electorate of Newtown and advancing the Greens’ vision for a more just, more sustainable and more equitable society. That includes our ongoing work to see a repeal of the ineffective NSW drug dog detection program in NSW.

“I would like to thank the many members of the community who have expressed their personal support to us since these issues have been exposed. The outpouring of concern, care and commitment to seeing an end to racism and sexism in our community has been truly heartening in the face of such vile online abuse.”

On Sunday 10 April Fairfax reported that serving officers in the NSW Police Force have been trolling and harassing NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong on social media.

In New South Wales the use of sniffer dogs by police on public transport, at festivals and in bars is not about effective drug control. It is about police intimidation and harassment. Today we introduced legislation into Parliament to abolish this harmful program. 

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right. Today the NSW Liberal Government pushed through laws granting police extraordinary new anti-protest powers. The Greens will always support the right to protest peacefully. 

Poor management of drug exhibits by the NSW Police Force has seen officers exposed to dangerous chemicals, resulting in serious injuries in a number of cases. Today we supported reforms to police drug-handling practices in order to address this. 

Today the NSW Parliament offered an historic apology to the 78ers, participants of Sydney’s first gay and lesbian pride marches and protests.

NSW Greens spokesperson for Sexuality and Gender Identity and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong is a member of the Parliamentary Friends of LGBTI group that worked with the 78ers to have the formal apology made in Parliament.

In her speech Ms Leong called on the NSW Police to join the Parliament and apologise. She has launched a petition asking Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione to issue a formal apology.

Today the Government introduced unnecessary changes to bail laws making the application of bail less transparent and less consistent, and extending extraordinary police powers. Read our speech opposing these changes below.