SPENCE APPLAUDS ROLE OF WOMEN IN QUEENSLAND’S POLICE SERVICE

Police Minister Judy Spence today addressed 100 of Queensland’s rank and file police women, as well as representatives from the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, at the third annual Senior Women’s Forum in Brisbane.

The leadership conference, themed ‘inform, inspire and progress – it’s our future’, is aimed supporting women in senior positions within the Police Service.

Ms Spence said there were only two female police officers in Queensland in 1965, compared to more than 2,000 serving in communities across the state today.

“Women have a very bright future in our Police Service,” Ms Spence said.

“Today women account for one fifth of our Police Service and these days one in every three new recruits.

“They are involved in virtually every facet of policing and have enriched our Police Service by enabling it to reflect the diverse community it serves.

“Women have progressed to almost every rank within the Service, up to Assistant Commissioner Kathy Rynders, who is the highest ranking female police officer in Queensland and the first woman to hold the rank of Assistant Commissioner.

“They are performing work as police officers in the general duties, traffic branch, State Crime Operations, Forensics, the Public Safety Response Team, the Mounted Police, the Water Police and the Dog Squad.”

Ms Spence said the advancement of women into senior roles in the public service has become more prominent in the past two decades.

“When I started out in politics 17 years ago, Queensland had no women judges, no women magistrates, no women heads of government departments. There were certainly no women Police Ministers,” Ms Spence said.

“There was no state legislation to prevent discrimination, there were no state funds for women’s health services, and there was no women’s policy unit.

“Today I am very proud that the Beattie Government has encouraged such a strong female representation in Parliament, with 24 women MPs - including six Cabinet Ministers.”

Ms Spence said the Senior Women’s Forum was an opportunity for women in the Police Service to meet, discuss, debate, put forward ideas, to share visions and to offer solutions to issues that arise in the work environment.

The forum runs from 16 -18 October and guest speakers include Victorian Police Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon, and 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer.

Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287