Queensland police finance review referred to corruption watchdog

The review found a $400 million structural deficit in the police budget. (ABC News: Lucas HIll)

A review into Queensland police finances has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The review found money was redirected from its intended purpose.

Police say the financial shortfall will not be addressed with redundancies.

An independent review that found Queensland's police service defied government priorities and allocated money to purposes other than what was intended has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

The review, which has made 21 recommendations, also found the QPS had a forecast deficit of $400 million for the 2026 financial year.

Police Commissioner Brett Pointing said he made the referral to the corruption watchdog as he acknowledged the review could impact "public confidence and trust" in the administration practices of the QPS.

"In simple terms, the organisation has been living beyond its means," he said.

The review has been referred to the CCC. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)

He said "certain matters were drawn attention to" but would not say whether any individuals had been referred to the CCC in order to "respect the process".

The report found that by June 30 last year, the workforce had increased by 410 full-time equivalents despite funding being provided for 1,241 positions.

Meanwhile, the number of unsworn positions rose by about 600 above the funding that it was allocated.

Neil Castles, who authored the report, noted the biggest contributing factor to the service's current position was poor financial management and defiance of government decisions by using funding for purposes other than for what it was intended for.

The report said government money provided to meet specific priorities was not "ring-fenced", meaning it could be reallocated within police to other areas.

"There were no checks or oversight mechanisms in place within central agencies to verify whether the funding was being expended for its approved purpose," the report noted.

The report recommended about 280 Queensland Police officers should return to the front line over 18 months and that QPS should be banned from filling vacant positions until June 30 next year.

Commissioner Pointing said the community had "every right to be disappointed in the performance of the QPS".

"My focus of course, moving forward, is to fix it and do the reset of the organisation that is necessary," he said.

Dan Purdie says it is a "bombshell" report. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)

Commissioner Pointing said he wanted to assure staff the report would not le