Affirmative Action, Merit and Police Recruitment

Alternative Law Journal, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 234-237, 2003

4 Pages Posted: 9 Feb 2010 Last revised: 7 Jun 2010

Date Written: 2003

Abstract

Affirmative action measures, particularly the use of quotas, are contentious because they are assumed to contravene the merit principle. This piece challenges the assumption with reference to a proposal by Victoria Police that 50% of all new recruits should be women. It argues that the normativity of the white male police officer has shaped the construction of the ‘best person’. The paper includes an overview of affirmative action law in Australia.

Keywords: affirmative action, merit, employment, police

JEL Classification: K31, J45

Suggested Citation

Thornton, Margaret, Affirmative Action, Merit and Police Recruitment (2003). Alternative Law Journal, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 234-237, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1549900

Margaret Thornton (Contact Author)

ANU College of Law ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia