Policewomen and Queensland

Abstract

Queensland was a late starter in the employment of policewomen and, apart from a brief period in the early 1970s, has lagged behind other jurisdictions in utilising women. The aberrant history of policewomen in Queensland suggests additional evidence for the characterisation of Queensland as ‘the deep north’. Apart from the influence of general cultural and political factors, fluctuations in the fortunes of policewomen relate specifically to the discretionary powers held by police commissioners in personnel policies; problems of corruption and lack of accountability in particular have had a gender dimension, but close scrutiny of recent reforms has tended to ignore the impact of the Fitzgerald Report on women in the police force. Seismic changes have occurred at the level of policies and procedures and, although cultural change is limping behind, Queensland is now a leading State for access of women to a career in policing.