17 February 2025
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) is calling on the CLP Government to honour its commitment to a police retention bonus and properly fund the Northern Territory Police Force to deliver it.
Upon forming government, the CLP promised an attractive retention bonus package for NT police officers, including:
- $10,000 for 10 years of service
- $15,000 for 15 years of service
- $20,000 for 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service
The NTPA raised concerns with the Chief Minister that the proposal to only pay for member milestones reached in 2025 would be divisive and discriminate against most of our members. The Chief Minister agreed that the bonuses were to be paid out over the course of five years – a commitment she has made on multiple occasions.
However, in a backflip last week, the NTPA was informed the Government will now only pay bonuses to those members reaching milestones in 2025.
NTPA President Nathan Finn said this backflip, combined with the news that police will now be bound to an insulting 3% wages policy is going to have devastating impacts for the Northern Territory Police Force and ultimately the safety of the Northern Territory community.
“The NT Police Force is losing officers at a rapid and unsustainable pace. Without immediate action, this crisis will intensify—particularly as interstate police forces lure officers away with significantly better pay and conditions.
“The CLP Government promised to start to fix this crisis by introducing a retention bonus. A lot of members voted for Lia Finocchiaro believing they would receive a significant retention bonus. Last week, that amount was slashed, and today, I am forced to tell most of our members that they are not guaranteed to receive anything at all.
“The Chief Minister went on radio today and said the Northern Territory Police Association does not want a 5-year retention agreement – let me be very clear, a 5-year agreement is something that the NTPA fought for and received a commitment from the Chief Minister for - to say anything else is completely false.
“You cannot call this a retention bonus when over 90% of police officers will potentially receive nothing and we don’t have time to wait for what future years may now look like.
“This broken commitment will be the final straw for many officers—they will make arrangements to leave the NT Police Force. Time and time again we hear the Government thanking our members for their commitment, resilience, and for the added pressure placed on each of members every single day. It is time that the Government shows them respect and honours them with an agreed retention bonus and improved pay and conditions”
What the NTPA is calling for:
- The CLP Government to honour its full retention bonus promise across five years, so that all members receive this bonus, including: $10,000 for 10 years of service, $15,000 for 15 years of service and $20,000 for 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 + years of service.
- Proper funding for the NT Police Force to deliver these bonuses - forcing the Police Commissioner to find the money internally would effectively be a budget cut to frontline services.
- A strong and fair pay agreement that reflects the dedication, sacrifice, and relentless efforts of NT Police officers.
The NTPA urges the CLP Government to immediately rectify this damaging decision and fulfil its commitment to supporting the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect Territorians every day.
ENDS
