The Militarization of our Police forces.

I believe it's happening here purely because it's happening in America, but there for American-specific reasons.
Given their obsessive, if not obscene, gun culture and the degradation of their society it isn't surprising, but it's been a subject of concern there as well.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ferguson-critics-police-militarization-110017.html

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/08/14/ferguson-and-the-shocking-nature-of-us-police-militarization

Their Defence Dpt had gifted millions of dollars worth of weapons and military equipment widely, it's obviously the over-supply from their recent war spendfest.
The police here have been guilty of following that trend without justification, they don't face anything like the danger American police do, except on rare occasions.
Let's face it, when was the last time the Tactical squads anywhere in Australia actually used their fancy assault wagons, or those machine guns they're so fond of, or even a sniper actually firing his weapon?
Then there's the minor detail that their fancy military toys have to be paid for, our Defence Dpt isn't throwing truck-fulls around like the Yanky Devil is.
We also can't ignore the psychological effect, both on the officers themselves and on the public. Many men, or women, when attired in militaristic uniform inevitably tend to act more aggressively, this is well known. The public, especially those having to deal with the police, are also affected, it's a much more confronting experience on many levels.
The Northern Territory Police changed their uniform recently, against their and the public's objections, from the traditional khaki casual style to a shock-trooper black booted military style, with a Bat-belt and a big gun.
The effect was noticeable in many ways, and the public's respect for their police is plummeting, violent confrontations are up, and the police themselves are far less relaxed and interactive than they had always been till then.
It's a shame, just to be trendy the police all across Australia are making their own job harder and our lives less pleasant.
That's the only way I can see it, they don't need it, we don't need them having it, it's flaming expensive and ends up as a toy for exercises, and a bad influence on everyone.

No Bruce, it's not all right, this is a topical and related video but the part relevant to your post is toward the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_icVWKO4_o

The Gold Coast was once a family friendly day tripper destination,

http://www.news.com.au/national/secret-police-footage-captures-terrifying-scenes-as-bandido-bikies-and-police-clash-on-the-gold-coast/story-fncynjr2-1226754293081

https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/factsheets/article/-/9540770/policeman-shot-in-face-on-gold-coast/

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/criminal-bikie-gangs-boost-numbers-with-young-muslim-and-eastern-european-recruits/story-fnihsrf2-1226733840346

Criminal gangs are operating in all States and Territories. They are well armed and take no notice of laws. The gun laws never took guns from criminals nor ever posed a challenge for them. It helped crime - 'gun control' assured criminals of defenseless citizens, waiting victims who are not even allowed to wave a butter knife to defend themselves and their loved ones in their own home.

When police go about their ordinary business they are always at risk. Police, their families and citizens would like police to return home at night unharmed.

The uniform changes are smart, functional and unisex. If it was proposed in other States that police don khaki there would be screams of 'Hitler's Brownshirts', wouldn't there? Police can never win.

I agree G'day Bruce, we don't need to emulate the US in our police/military forces.
We never want the massive numbers of gun-related murders the US suffers from.

Whatever gun laws we have now, we have a less violent society in Australia, and if anything, we should be tightening the gun laws even further...

Ah, but please consider OTB, our police have had their deadly toys for more than a decade in most cases, and as I said, how often, or when, have they EVER used them?
They have geared themselves up for a threat that barely exists, and they aren't wiling to use them, they "contain" situations and have never to my knowledge gone in guns a'blazing.
Their uniforms can be smart and unisexual without being paramilitary, and I wasn't suggesting they adopt khaki, that was a local uniform particular to the NT.
Yes, there are indeed baddies with guns here, but it would appear they mostly use them on themselves, how many gun battles have erupted between gangs and police here in Oz? Ever?
How often, if ever, do Australian police get into a shoot-out with anyone? One where gunfire is actually exchanged? When have they ever used their Assault Vehicles for an assault under fire?
I'd also appreciate your, or anyone's, thoughts on the psychological effects, on both they and the public, and why we should pay the price thereof

The NSW Police have been a para-military force since day 1, and have always used the same or very similar weapons to the Army.
Sometimes Police Officers have had the very latest weapons that Army Officers could only have if they bought them privately.

If they very seldom need the weapons that they now have then it is a very good thing that they have them on the rare occasions that they need them.

There is not much worse than needing a weapon and not having one.