Premier says tougher laws 'will be considered' after war memorials damaged
Queensland premier David Crisafulli says tougher laws "will be considered" after two separate acts of vandalism on war memorials over the last 48 hours.
Police are investigating two separate acts of vandalism at war memorial sites in Redlands and Hervey Bay.
A cenotaph in Cleveland was damaged while a man driving a ute repeatedly rammed a flagpole at the Hervey Bay RSL.
The acts of damage come just days ahead of Remembrance Day on November 11.
Police have charged one man and another is assisting with enquiries after two separate acts of vandalism at war memorial monuments in Cleveland and Hervey Bay.
The pillar of a 106-year-old war memorial cenotaph in Anzac Park at Cleveland, east of Brisbane, was found broken on Sunday morning.
Photos show the pillar which sat atop the memorial shattered on the ground below.
At around midday on Monday a 20-year-old Cleveland man attended a police station and is currently assisting police with their enquiries.
Police said they are looking for three other people reported in the area at the time.
Meanwhile, sub-branch president of the Hervey Bay RSL, Brad Gray, came to work on Monday morning to find the club's flagpole damaged.
CCTV footage shows a black Nissan Navara driving into the pole three times just before 7am.
Police attended the scene a short time later and apprehended a 38-year-old man in the vehicle nearby.
The man has been charged with a range of offences including wilful damage, possessing a knife in a public place and drug charges.
The vehicle had a mattress placed over its bonnet and windscreen.
Both incidents occurred just days before Remembrance Day.
Queensland Premier and Minister for Veterans David Crisafulli said the damage done to the Cleveland memorial was "disgraceful".
"We will watch the outcome very closely if it progresses through court, and it tougher laws are needed, they will be considered."
Mr Gray said the damage to the RSL's flagpole was not good timing.
"I've got no hope I get anybody in to repair ir before Remembrance Day. It'll have to be like that."
"I don't get what these people get out of desecrating a war memorial," he said.
He said there are no changes planned for Wednesday's Remembrance Day events.
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