Three Queensland police officers who made racist comments at a Brisbane watch house will retain their positions. 

The leaked audio contained offensive language and expressions of violence towards black individuals, including concerns about Australia being “taken over” by a particular ethnic group.

When the whistleblower-revealed audio was initially disclosed in November last year, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk condemned the comments as “horrific”, while Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll asserted that such views had no place in the police organisation.

Following an investigation by the Ethical Standards Command, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has declared that three members will undergo “remedial strategies” - lessons on multicultural awareness, ethical behaviour, workplace inclusivity, emotional intelligence, and in-depth discussions with the officer in charge.

One officer resigned from the QPS, and another was found not to be involved in the incident.

Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside, an incarcerated women's advocacy group, expressed disappointment in the outcome, stating that it perpetuated racism, sexism, and misogyny within the police force. 

She says there is a need to address the systemic issues revealed in the previous year's inquiry into the police service's culture.

Despite previous promises by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll to combat racism and misogyny within the police force, officers involved in the racist audio recording have not faced serious sanctions. 

The internal process known as “local management resolution” was applied to two police officers and two assistant watch-house officers. This process does not entail disciplinary actions but aims to identify areas for improvement.

The lack of significant repercussions has led to criticism from experts and advocacy groups. 

Criminologist Kerry Carrington remarked that the police officers appeared impervious to accountability, and Tim Prenzler, a police accountability expert, stressed the need for a more robust and independent integrity management system within the QPS.

A Queensland police spokesperson indicated the establishment of a state case management unit within the ethical standards command to centrally manage complaints related to sexism, misogyny, homophobia, racism, and bullying. 

The Crime and Corruption Commission, which oversaw the investigation, supported the ruling.

Queensland's Police Minister, Mark Ryan, says the state is creating a new unit to handle disciplinary matters.