As a former Police Officer,who joined with the only prerequisite being over 179 cm. ,strong build, an ability to read and write
English and some basic arithmetic.As well as never breaking the law.
Today,half of all women employed by the state police have had more than a month of their annual sickleave entitlement within the last year.Many on stress leave for months and years with full pay.
In Victoria,small women who join to be amongst the "best of the best" but quickly realise that they are under the "best of the best" in all interpretations of the expression.
State Police are selecting small stature foreign non Europeans into the force and not encouraging big strong Aussie boys to join.
The result is a police force made up of the weak in physical and mental strength.They run to the doctor at the slightest feeling they cannot perform their duty.
The other night I caught a train and saw a group of five small girls and Asian men in Victoria Police uniforms laughing and joking on the railway platform.
If they were asked to subdue an Ice addict, I am confident the Addict would come off best in a confrontation .With our little Police group lining up on Monday morning at the Doctors.
Victoria Police are ticking all the affirmative action boxes, but with three police suicides so far this year,perhaps it is time to get back to basics.
We need our Police Force to be looking after the public.
Not as our Poice Commissioner has stated "looking after other members."
In most violent situations Police should not use their guns,yet provide small stature police with guns.
The mixture is toxic as Royal commission after Royal commission has proved.
It is time to stop being smart and be realistic for the sake of both Police and the Community.

Physical strength does not require large stature, and mental strength is totally unrelated.

Totally agree, Brock. I'm a little bloke myself (now old as well) but no females or small blokes are suited to police work. The same applies to the military.

As one who had to deal with violent criminals I am so glad I never had to put up with the stupidity of affirmative action. Ideology triumphing over the safety of others is the obvious outcome.

Dear BROCK,

Congratulations on passing the illiteracy test.

Affirmative action by definition a way of giving the job to a lower qualified applicant, who would never get the job on merit.

It is totally immoral to use taxpayer funds to hire the less competent for government jobs. We most definitely do not need to reduce even further the efficiency of our feather bedded public services.

Hasbeen, your definition of affirmative action is wrong, at least in Australian english.

Affirmative action is about removing the barriers that are holding back competent people from disadvantaged groups.

Aidan the only disadvantaged group in Oz is white adult males in work.

All the rest are advantaged by living off them. You know, I have not seen any plan to actually advantage those who pay the bills.

Hasbeen,

"the only disadvantaged group in Oz is white adult males in work."
If you believe that then you're completely out of touch. White males in work are the group that gets the most opportunity, hence they're the least disadvantaged group.

"All the rest are advantaged by living off them. You know, I have not seen any plan to actually advantage those who pay the bills."
Disadvantage and obligation are not the same thing. It's only fair that the most advantaged have the most obligation.