· Call for NSW alcohol crackdown

A Queensland police officer who was stabbed in the neck at the start of a nationwide crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence has recovered enough to leave hospital.

The officer was stabbed with a knife at a Townsville bar about 12.30am (AEST) on Saturday and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

“His injuries were significant but luckily he is fit enough now to continue his recovery at home,” a police spokesman told AAP on Sunday.

The officer was taking part in Operation Unite, a blitz on alcohol-related crime across Australia and New Zealand.

His alleged attacker was arrested at the scene.

A total of 430 arrests were made in Queensland during the crackdown on alcohol-fuelled assaults, anti-social behaviour and drink-driving across Australia and New Zealand since Friday night.

Premier Campbell Newman said there had been two serious assaults on police.

“Assaults on police are totally unacceptable on all accounts,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“People who assault police need to know there are significant penalties.”

The maximum penalty for assaulting a police officer was increased from seven to 14 years and the murder of a police officer attracts a non-parole period of 25 years under tough penalties introduced by the Newman government last year.