SAPOL People Matter Employee Survey

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:56): My question is again to the Minister for Police. Has the minister read the SAPOL People Matter Employee Survey and, if so, is he taking any action in response to the survey results? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BATTY: The survey revealed that just 63 per cent of South Australia Police employees intend to stay working with the agency for at least the next three years. It also showed less than half of SAPOL employees believe their career goals could be met at the agency, while only 26 per cent of the employees feel energised at work.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:57): I appreciate the question from the shadow minister. The 2024 People Matter Employee Survey, formerly known as the I Work for SA—Your Voice Survey, was undertaken by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, as the shadow minister is well aware. That survey is undertaken across all public sector agencies in South Australia. It's a voluntary and anonymous survey. It was open to all South Australian public sector employees over a period of four weeks, from 28 February to 27 March 2024.

I am informed that South Australia Police achieved a response rate of 57 per cent and, of course, we do take all of the matters that are raised in People Matter surveys responses very seriously. The survey measured employee engagement, employee experience, the intent to stay, inclusion and wellbeing, and each of these matters was informed by drivers such as psychological safety, performance, trust, values, customer focus and strategic alignment.

I think it is right to say that SAPOL's 2024 People Matter Employee Survey results reveal that there were a number of measures that indeed surpassed the sector average and, of course, in terms of one category that the shadow minister emphasised and that was the intent to stay. That indicates to me that despite the many challenges that South Australia Police face in an increasingly complex policing environment—of course, some of those matters were referred to by the Premier—I think it's right for me to say that our community's expectations of policing continue to increase and expand and the expectations that governments have of police forces continue to increase.

But there were, of course, a number of important strengths including a strong culture and alignment around maintaining ethical standards, with 79 per cent of respondents clear on what is expected of them at work. SAPOL's intent to stay was 63 per cent, 6 per cent higher than the sector average score, suggesting employees are intrinsically motivated, connected to South Australia Police and willing to commit to making a difference.

In terms of the overall employee survey and results, these are matters that I say we examine very closely. It is important for me to indicate that this is a matter that I have given considerable thought and reflection over. The context that we find ourselves in as a state, in terms of policing, and that other states and territories find themselves in is important, so while not intending to discount for even a moment the challenges that we have explored in this place and elsewhere, it is right for me to observe that South Australia Police has one of the lowest attrition rates in our country.

In fact, it is often one of the best of all of the states and sometimes second only to the Australian Federal Police which, of course, have a very different policing profile and presence in our national life when compared to state policing operations. The other matter which I think is particularly important for me to emphasise in closing is that we have the highest number of police officers by head of population of any of the states. Whilst, as I say in closing, we do not discount for even a moment the challenges that our police officers face and the complications and difficulties police face, we respect their service.