14 December 2023
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) questions the potential impact to frontline capabilities and the police budget, as well as the NT Government’s ability to ensure members have the staffing and resourcing to do what is being expected of them, following the announcement of the newly formed Territory Safety Division (TSD).
NTPA President Nathan Finn said the Association will always support extra members being added to the bottom line, as long as they are genuine, fully-funded, additions and not simply being siphoned from one section to another without a replacement.
“How much funding is the NT Government committing to the TSD? Is it new funding, or will police be forced to try and find it within the existing budget? Where will the additional members come from, and what units/sections/stations will be impacted?
“It’s disingenuous of Government to claim “So, far this year, the Police frontline has been boosted with 107 new constables and 68 new auxiliaries”, when the reality is, comparing the NTPOL FTE from 2012-2013 with the FTE in the 2022-2023 Annual Report, only 19.48 additional constables have been added in the past decade.
“We would rather see the 50 officers, who are earmarked for the TSD, bolstering the frontline to address record levels of domestic violence, and alcohol-fuelled harm, crime and violence in our community”, said Mr Finn.
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
