Queensland’s Human Rights Commissioner says he’s “disappointed” the state’s police service has rejected several “critical” diversity review recommendations designed to hold leadership to account. 

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) confirmed it had declined suggestions by the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) to implement minimum diversity targets throughout its ranks.

It will also disband an expert advisory panel that would oversee the implementation of the recommendations.

Commissioner Scott McDougall said, “the recommendations provided an achievable path forward aligned with the strategic vision of the QPS”.

Mr McDougall said they also supported “key portfolio deliverables”, including member retention. 

“I am disappointed that several critical recommendations designed to hold QPS leadership accountable for measurable change have been declined or only partially accepted,” Mr McDougall said.

“For example, the recommendation that substantial progress be made to achieving minimum diversity targets in their Executive Leadership Team within two years.

Unions won’t publicly commit to equality

The QHRC review was a recommendation of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry into QPS responses to domestic violence, which aired shocking allegations of racism and misogyny. 

The 16-month probe found systemic discrimination against women and First Nations people “continues to be driven by outdated processes and attitudes” within the QPS.

It heard successful female officers were accused of “sleeping their way to the top” and racism had been justified as “banter”.

The QPS accepted the majority of the 36 recommendations, in part or full, but declined several significant suggestions.

Other recommendations rebuffed by the QPS include the implementation of “performance indicators that prioritise diversity and inclusion for individual Executive Leadership Team members” within nine months of the report.

A suggestion for trial sites for different forms of flexible work within a year of the report was also rejected.

The QPS said in a statement that most recommendations have been accepted but some depended on funding or resourcing to meet specific time frames.

Where recommendations were refused, the QPS said “the proposed work is either considered out of scope, the intent can be delivered through other means, or there are significant impediments to making progress at this time.”

Recommendations for the Queensland government and two Queensland police unions to publicly affirm their commitment to improving workplace equality within the QPS were also rejected.

‘We can always strive to be better’

Mr McDougall welcomed the QPS’ acceptance of recommendations to embed victim-centred and trauma-informed practices into their policies.

He said he’d spoken with Police Minister Dan Purdie and requested the government “prioritise funding for all of the recommendations that have been accepted subject to funding”. 

QPS and Mr Purdie have been contacted for comment.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Kelly, who led the QPS’s involvement in the review, said there was always room for positive change.

“While I am proud of the work that our officers and members conduct daily, we can always strive to be a better organisation than we were the day before,” Mr Kelly said.

“While culture change takes time, every step we take drives us closer to building a safer, more inclusive police service that Queenslanders can trust and be proud of.”