Mayor backs intent of powers, but warns on rollout risks

Mayor Natoli: “Council staff working in some of those high-risk public areas now wear stab vests and body worn cameras. That’s standard.”

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli has told a parliamentary hearing in Nambour the region “deserves to feel safe”, backing the intent of proposed new police powers while cautioning that how they are implemented would be critical.

The hearing, held at Nambour RSL on March 30, forms part of a statewide inquiry into legislation aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in CBDs through expanded police powers, including move-on directions and banning notices.

In her submission, Mayor Natoli said community concerns about safety in town centres were real and growing, with council data showing a decline in the number of residents who feel safe.

“Our community deserves to feel safe,” she told the committee. “When residents, business owners and workers tell me that feeling is under threat in our town centres and public spaces, then that is something we need to take seriously.”

Mayor Natoli said the Sunshine Coast had seen a real increase in anti-social behaviour in recent years.  

She said staff, contractors and volunteers had  experienced a marked increase in aggressive and violent behaviour, verbal abuse, and physical assaults. 

“Now, in the past year alone, we’ve seen nearly a 20% increase in aggression and occupational violence,” she said. “So that is from the council point of view. That’s had a real effect on their ability to do their work and feel safe at the same time.

“Council staff working in some of those high-risk public areas now wear stab vests and body worn cameras. That’s standard. Now let me explain to you, these are our compliance officers, our parks workers, our library staff, our community development officers, people doing everyday work across our region wearing stab vests and body-worn cameras. 

“That protective equipment has become standard kit, and the fact that it is standard tells its own story of what impact it has had on us as a council, on our employees and broadly, that’s a reflection of the impact on our community, on the people in our community. 

“Businesses across the region and in our town centres reflect a similar story in conversations here in Nambour, but not only limited to Nambour. What I hear is consistent. It is staff dealing with difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. Some businesses are changing their hours of operation or struggling to retain staff. And as a council as well, we see that impact on our people.”

However, she urged the committee to carefully consider how the proposed “Designated Business and Community Precincts” would operate on the ground.

“The issues this bill seeks to address don’t exist in isolation,” she said, pointing to population growth, housing pressures and increasing demands on services.

She warned of potential unintended consequences, including displacement of people into surrounding areas and additional pressure on council resources.

“We would consider whether there are impacts on surrounding areas and on vulnerable people,” she said. “Council already carries considerable costs in this space.”

Mayor Natoli also called for strong local government involvement in determining precinct boundaries and reviewing their effectiveness.

“Those declarations should be grounded in demonstrable need – based on data, community feedback and local knowledge,” she said.

While welcoming consultation requirements within the bill, she said long-term success would depend on coordinated action across agencies. “Enforcement activity alone is not a measure of success,” she said. “What we need to see is genuine, sustained improvement.”

The hearing in Nambour is one of several being held across Queensland as part of the parliamentary inquiry, with community feedback set to inform the final shape of the legislation.