NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley says: “We are proud to have reached an agreement that recognises the difficult and dangerous work police do to keep us safe”. Photo: Facebook.
More than 10,000 officers in the NSW Police Force could receive the largest pay rise in three decades, a welcome success and “in jarring contrast” to the last offer made to its federal counterpart, says the latter’s union.
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) is calling the recent “substantial pay rise” offer from the NSW Government a deal that “properly recognises and respects the contribution of police officers”. Police officers will vote later this month on whether to accept a rise that will put between 25 and 39 per cent more in their pay packets over the next four years, along with backpay to July.
However, its president Alex Caruana says it’s “tough to see what the Albanese Government is offering AFP officers as anything short of blatant disrespect“.
According to the union, the offer of 11.2 per cent over three years with some benefits was “calibrated for public servants, not operational police officers, forensic scientists and cyber experts”.
“AFP officers put their safety and health on the line dealing with the worst of humanity so the rest of us don’t have to worry about it,” Mr Caruana said. “Paedophile rings, international drug trafficking, illegal arms dealers, murderous terrorists.
“But even if you don’t care about fairness, undervaluing AFP officers creates a huge problem for the national interest. If you don’t care about offering a fair deal to AFP officers, then you don’t care about the threat of terrorism.
“You don’t care about cyber crime and online child exploitation material. And you don’t care about our role in the Pacific.”
On Monday (11 November), the Police Association of NSW (PANSW) celebrated an offer from State Police Minister Yasmin Catley that could:
- See level-three senior constable salaries grow from $107,600 to $146,600 by mid-2027;
- Provide a 19 per cent base pay increase to non-commissioned officers over four years, plus allowances, accelerated pay scales and allowances that will enhance this base pay rise;
- Afford commissioned officers and inspectors a base pay rise of 13.5 per cent and 15 per cent respectively;
- Give a one-off $5400 Leadership Retention Payment to senior police officers who undertake a leadership and wellbeing training program focused on supporting and rehabilitating injured officers;
- Consolidate pay scales such that a constable will be able to reach the top level of senior constable within nine years instead of the current 15;
- Further consolidate pay scales for senior constables, sergeants and inspectors to remove overlapping pay scales, incentivise retention and accelerate progression for current serving officers;
- Garner updated and improved allowances;
- Move to a full-time equivalent (FTE) model giving the NSWPF more flexibility to offer more part-time working arrangements.
PANSW president Kevin Morton told members in a video the offer “exceeds any other police jurisdiction across the country” and “outstrips what we have seen accepted by other public sector agencies”.
“By July 2027, a top-level senior constable who works a rotating roster will earn over $150,000 per annum plus 12 per cent superannuation,” he said. “A top-level sergeant who works a rotating roster after four years on rank will earn over $170,000 plus 12 per cent superannuation.”
Late last month, AFPA president Alex Caruana met union representatives in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, HQ in Canberra and the Belconnen police station. Photo: Facebook.
Minister Catley noted at a press conference that “to keep cops, you’ve got to pay them properly”.
“We need to retain more police in NSW and we need to recruit more police in NSW,” she said. “We inherited more than 1000 police short when we came into government and, unfortunately, we are still bleeding police in this state.
“We made savings right across all areas, operationally and in support, and it’s that which is paying for the pay rise.”
This $697.6 million investment was funded by reforms to the Police Blue Ribbon Insurance (PBRI) scheme, bringing it in-house so that its private profits could be reinvested into the workforce.
According to the state, the premium paid to a private insurer for the PBRI was almost $700 million and had been increasing at an average annual rate of 33 per cent over the past five years.
Meanwhile, Mr Caruana said the Federal Government had dragged federal officers through months of gruelling negotiation before deciding on a low-ball offer. He said it was intentionally exploiting members’ fatigue “because they know officers are keen to get some kind of deal done”.
“But this New South Wales deal will leave an incredibly bitter taste in their mouths,” Mr Caruana said. “And for those who haven’t voted yet, I can’t see many voting yes.”
