South Australia Police

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question about gender-based recruitment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I refer the minister to his answer to my questions on Tuesday 21 June. I thank him for his verbal commitment to female police officers and improved female application numbers. By way of a follow-up question, I ask: what improvements in flexible working arrangements has the police commissioner made since his appointment, and does the minister have any specific plans for improving flexible working arrangements in the future?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am advised the police commissioner has spoken on more than one occasion about his commitment to improving the number of women that exist within the South Australian police force. Again, on more than one occasion, I have spoken in this place about the policy benefits of that in respect of policing more generally, and the importance of a police force reflecting the community they serve.

In respect of SAPOL policies that go beyond the fifty-fifty recruitment target itself, I am advised that the police commissioner is looking at a number of ways to be able to ensure that SAPOL is an employer of choice when it comes to attracting and retaining female police officers. If the honourable member would like some specific examples of things that are being contemplated or may have been implemented, I am happy to see if I can seek that information from SAPOL and provide it to him.