Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains): I pay tribute to women police officers in the Blue Mountains electorate. In the 100 years since women first joined the NSW Police Force, the face and culture of policing has changed dramatically. To mark this occasion, I was joined at my electorate office this week by Sergeant Allanah Anson, Sergeant Kylie Pettit, Senior Constable Lisa Banks, Senior Constable Mary Lou Keating, Senior Constable Bianca Kleyn, Senior Constable Melissa Rosevear, Senior Constable Michelle Jancso and Constable Nikki Lee Jarvis.

The Blue Mountains Local Area Command has a number of dedicated, professional and hardworking women among its ranks. However, it is vital that local police forces represent the diversity of the communities that they serve and protect. Of the 117 sworn officers serving in the Blue Mountains only 25 are women—21 per cent. This figure is below the statewide average of almost 27 per cent. As the push for gender equality throughout all workplaces continues to gain strength, the significance of the centenary of women in New South Wales policing is an important milestone to recognise and a rallying point around which we should all push to see more women take up this challenging and rewarding profession.