Police Association of South Australia Tuesday June 23, 2026

Delegates of the Police Association of South Australia (PASA) today passed a motion of no confidence in Commissioner Grant Stevens and Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams.

The motion followed a delegates meeting convened to consider concerns regarding workforce conditions, operational performance, organizational reform and leadership accountability within South Australia Police.

The motion reflects concerns raised by elected delegates — who represent every section of the SAPOL workforce — regarding workforce sustainability, operational effectiveness, staffing pressures, increasing administrative burden, workforce wellbeing and confidence in SAPOL’s future direction.

Police Association members represent approximately 95% of SAPOL’s sworn workforce.

The no-confidence motion carried by delegates and the supporting reasons are attached.

Police Association delegates No Confidence Motion in Commissioner Grant Stevens and Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams

Delegates note that:

• The District Policing Model (DPM) has been independently assessed by the 2025 BDO Review as “no longer sustainable in its current form”, due to structural mismatch between demand, staffing capacity and workload.
• Operational outcomes have deteriorated under the current model, including reduced proactive policing capacity, increased reactive demand and rising workload complexity.
• Excessive administrative burden, expanding HR processes and increasing bureaucratic red tape are materially reducing front-line time, operational effectiveness and workplace morale.
• Workforce retention has declined significantly, with non-retirement resignations increasing from approximately 18% to more than 50% in recent years.
• The 2024 People Matter Employee Survey recorded SAPOL below the public sector average in 22 of 24 categories, including leadership confidence and workforce wellbeing.
• The 2025 PASA members survey shows only 8% of surveyed members believe SAPOL is better off now than in 2015.
• Members continue to report sustained physical fatigue, roster instability, and psychological strain linked to workload intensity and staffing pressure.

Delegates further note that:

• The commissioner and deputy commissioner conceived, implemented and defended the District Policing Model.
• The same commissioner and deputy commissioner are now responsible for overseeing its redesign following its independent assessment as unsustainable.
• There remains a persistent gap between executive reporting and front-line operational reality, particularly in relation to workload, staffing capacity and administrative demand.

Delegates consider that:

• The combined impact of structural model failure, excessive administrative and HR bureaucracy and sustained workforce decline reflects a long-term breakdown in executive leadership.

• Confidence in the current commissioner and deputy commissioner to restore sustainable operations, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and rebuild workforce trust has been significantly eroded.

Therefore delegates resolve:

That this meeting of delegates of the Police Association of South Australia declares that it has no confidence in:

• Commissioner Grant Stevens; and
• Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams to lead SAPOL or to restore operational effectiveness, workforce confidence, morale and safe systems of work.

Tuesday June 23, 2026