Ipswich police officer hit by car shows 'slight signs of improvement'
A Queensland police officer put into an induced coma after being hit by an alleged stolen car last week in Ipswich is showing "slight signs of improvement", but is still in intensive care.
Constable Peter McAulay, a 24-year-old Ipswich police officer, was attempting to lay spikes on Brisbane Road to stop an allegedly stolen car when he was hit on Thursday and seriously injured.
A 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl have been charged with attempted murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. They were captured after the dog squad tracked them down near the crime scene.
The teenagers faced the Queensland Children's Court on Friday and were remanded in custody to reappear in November.
Constable McAulay suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma.
A Queensland Police spokeswoman said on Tuesday morning the young officer remained in the intensive care unit in a critical condition.
"Over the weekend Peter has shown slight signs of improvement, with his family remaining by his side," she said.
It was not confirmed if Constable McAulay was still in a coma.
The incident sparked fresh debate over the use of police chases and whether police should be given the power to remotely shut down car engines to prevent dangerous pursuits.
Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart and Police Minister Mark Ryan on Friday backed a call for vehicle immobilisers to be approved.
Mr Stewart said he and the police union supported the idea and believed other police jurisdictions would be in agreement.
"There's a ministerial council of police ministers next month. Let's put it on the agenda. Let's get it done," Mr Ryan said.
On Tuesday morning Queensland Police Union president Ian Leaver told Channel Nine's Today he was actively campaigning for a change to legislation to allow vehicle immobilisers.
"I have spoken with three of the police commissioners at this point in time, I have spoken with representatives from both the federal and state governments to put this on the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) agenda and other agendas where all the commissioners meet to attend to this as a matter of urgency," he said.
"To change the Australian design regulations is a federal issue but now is the time, let's move ahead and use technology and get on with the game.
"That is protecting the community and police will do that, each and every day, but we need the support of the law makers to be able to achieve what we want to do."
Federal cabinet minister and former Queensland police officer Peter Dutton had earlier called for a national approach to police pursuit rules following the incident.
The incident in Ipswich was the second in one month involving a Queensland police officer being struck and seriously injured by an allegedly stolen car, with another police officer suffering serious leg injuries in Chermside early in September.
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