19 January 2023
“Yet, Government and the Commissioner of Police are dragging the chain on offering our Members a decent pay rise. It’s been almost 12 months since negotiations started, and our Members have been without a pay rise for more than 18 months.
“After Labor’s embarrassing pay freeze backflip, the only offer our Members have had from Government is an insulting two percent, per annum, for the next three years. We have been clear all along, along less than what our Members deserve simply won’t cut it,” said Mr Blackwell.
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) is expecting a pay offer that reflects the value of our Members when Consent Agreement negotiations reconvene at the end of this month.
Acting NTPA President, Owen Blackwell, said many members had to forego precious time with their families over the Christmas and New Years break to ensure Territorians were kept safe.
“Our members were surged to Alice Springs to deal with out of control crime, dealt with flooding emergencies following Cyclone Ellie, as well as dealing with the day-to-day policing of escalating domestic violence, youth crime, and alcohol-fuelled harm, crime and violence.
“Yet, Government and the Commissioner of Police are dragging the chain on offering our Members a decent pay rise. It’s been almost 12 months since negotiations started, and our Members have been without a pay rise for more than 18 months.
“After Labor’s embarrassing pay freeze backflip, the only offer our Members have had from Government is an insulting two percent, per annum, for the next three years. We have been clear all along, along less than what our Members deserve simply won’t cut it,” said Mr Blackwell.
Not when:
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NT teachers were offered three percent per annum;
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NT Prisoner Officers are calling for six percent per annum;
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Queensland Police have accepted four percent in year one, four percent in year two, and three percent in year three, plus a payment of up to three percent per year if CPI exceeds annual wage increases. QLD Police also received 18 percent Superannuation; and
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Western Australia Police have rejected pay increases ranging from 3 to 5.3 percent per annum, plus a $3,000 bonus.
It’s now been:
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351 days since the NTPA lodged its initial log of claims;
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106 days since Labor scrapped its insulting pay freeze; and
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36 days since the last Consent Agreement negotiation meeting between the NTPA, and representatives from Government and Commissioner of Police.
"If Government, and the Commissioner of Police were serious about attracting and retaining police, a fair deal would have already been put on the table. Instead, they continue to blame aggressive interstate recruitment for NTPOL’s skyrocketing attrition rate, which now sits above 10 percent - but have done nothing to stem the flow of officers leaving the NT.
“That means, we can expect to lose at least 160 officers each year. That’s not sustainable and is not indicative of a healthy police force.
“This week, Victoria Police announced it will contact more than 40,000 potential recruits who either applied but missed out, registered for a careers information session, or signed up to learn about the police fitness test, in the state’s biggest ever recruitment drive. Meanwhile, the Department of Defence is still recruiting to bolster its numbers by an additional 20,000.
“Why would our Members stay when they’re being offered such a woeful deal by the NT Government?” said Mr Blackwell.
ENDS
Please direct all media enquiries to NTPA Communications Officer, Kyrrie Blenkinsop +61 (0) 499 017 654 or media@ntpa.com.au
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) is the industrial voice of all members of the Northern Territory Police Force. Read more via www.ntpa.com.au or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NTPoliceAssociation
