Published October 2024
The Opposition is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to urgently outline its police retention plan after it was revealed today that more than one in three SAPOL employees plans to leave the force over the next three years.
The South Australian Government’s People Matter Employee Survey has revealed that just 63 per cent of South Australian Police employees intend to stay working with the agency for at least the next three years.
Shockingly, the survey also revealed less than half of SAPOL employees believe that their career goals can be met at the agency, while only 26 per cent of employees ‘feel energised’ at work.
Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Police and Correctional Services, Jack Batty said he is deeply concerned about the impact that Labor’s police retention crisis will have on future frontline policing and community safety.
“So far, we know Labor’s Police Minister Dan Cregan’s grand plan to get more cops on the beat has actually resulted in a net loss of police officers throughout the past year,” Mr Batty said.
“We now learn that more than one in three SAPOL employees plan to leave the force over the next three years - which could have a disastrous impact on frontline policing in the midst of a crime wave in South Australia.
“SAPOL is already severely under resourced - with a shortfall of nearly 200 police officers.
“It is clear that Labor are now not just presiding over a police recruitment crisis but also a police retention crisis.
“The Government must reveal its plans on how they intend to retain our most experienced police officers who seem to be leaving in droves.
“SAPOL are crying out for help from this Government as work demands increase but resources have not kept pace.
“With crime skyrocketing across the State we can’t afford to lose a single officer let alone a third of the force.”
Media Contact: Gretel Mead 0449 500 844
