Tasmanian police officers are being forced back onto a schedule that includes seven consecutive night shifts, despite internal research warning of increased fatigue and a higher risk of operational errors.
The Ottawa roster has been reinstated at 24-hour police stations across the state, replacing alternative models that had been trialled by work groups within Tasmania Police, aimed at improving officer safety and wellbeing.
The Police Association of Tasmania has strongly criticised the decision, calling it a “betrayal of frontline officers” and has lodged a case with the Industrial Commission.
The union argues that the 30-year-old rostering system will compromise public safety.
In Parliament on Thursday, Shadow Police Minister Jen Butler questioned Police Minister Felix Ellis about the move, pointing to an earlier election commitment to establish a relief pool to support safe staffing levels at around-the-clock stations.
“This promise followed a 2-20 literature review by Tasmania Police that found clear evidence performance decreases and the risk of operational errors significantly increases as sleep debt accumulates, particularly across consecutive night shifts,” she said.
“With the knowledge it risks officer safety, wellbeing and ultimately the safety of the public, shouldn’t you be supporting the 6×6 and 4×4 rosters that work groups had trialled?”
Police Association President Shane Tilley has suggested the decision may have been driven by financial considerations, describing it as a cost-saving measure disguised as an operational requirement.
Minister Ellis said police leadership and the workforce needed to “work together in good faith” on resolving rostering matters.
“We want to deliver rosters that deliver great front-line services as well as reduce fatigue. And there’s clear concerns that the six-on-six-off rosters have a fatigue management issue with them, so it’s important that we get this right,” he said.
Ellis noted that the Ottawa roster complies with existing industrial agreements and confirmed the matter is currently before the Industrial Commission.
The Police Association maintains that adequate rest is essential for maintaining staff wellbeing and reducing the risk of injury or stress-related leave.
“You can’t serve and protect the public if you are running on empty,” Tilley said.
