Legislative Council Wednesday 18 September 2019

Ms FORREST question  to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

Regarding gender equality in Tasmania Police - 

(1)  How many women in number and percentage terms are employed at each level and rank in Tasmania Police?

(2)  What flexible workplace measures are in place to enable women's participation in Tasmania Police?

(3)  How many sworn police officers work parttime listed by rank, position and gender?

(4)  What, if any, barriers exist to accessing flexible work practices such as part-time hours and job sharing for police officers in all levels within Tasmania Police?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for Murchison for her questions.  I will answer question (2) and (4) and then seek leave to table the tables in here.

(2)   Tasmania Police implemented the current version of the Reduced Hours Management Guidelines in 2016; these guidelines address flexible workplace practices for all sworn members.  The guidelines have two main eligibility criteria being -

        Reduced hours employment following a period of parental leave.  This is intended to allow all members returning to work post a period of parental leave or leave without pay the opportunity to apply for reduced employment until their youngest child reaches school age, which is generally accepted as five years old.  There is no requirement for ongoing applications to participate in reduced hours employment until a cumulative period of five years has passed.

        Reduced hours employment to facilitate a work-life balance.  This is intended to provide an opportunity for all members to apply for reduced hours employment to facilitate a balance between work, family and life commitments.  These applications are based on merit and assessed in conjunction with the department's exigencies of service relating to the particular work area/division.  Such agreements are to be issued for a maximum of two years prior to a member reapplying.

(4)   In surveys conducted in 2016 and 2018, 58 per cent of Tasmanian police officers felt there is a positive culture in their organisation in relation to employees who use flexible work practices, and 67 per cent of Tasmanian police officers felt their organisation supports employees who have caring responsibilities, respectively.

       Within Tasmania Police, it is not unusual for two part-time applicants to apply for a position advertised at a full-time rate with the intention of job-sharing.  Given the above eligibility criteria, it is not often that a reduced hours application would be declined, making flexible arrangements readily accessible to staff.

Mr President, I seek leave to table the answers to questions (1) and (3).

Leave granted.

 Note - There is one female officer who holds the rank of Assistant Commissioner who is currently seconded to the State Service working within DPFEM.