The Territory’s police put their lives at risk every shift and their pay should reflect that: PAUL McCUE

THIS week, the Territory’s police officers, who protect our streets and community every day, made a statement. Their action spoke volumes.

The Territory’s police have overwhelmingly rejected the NT Government’s offer for their next wage deal. The offer from Government and the Commissioner of Police was not well received and this wasn’t by just a small margin.

Of the 1003 police who responded to the offer, 84 per cent said no. No to an apparent political agenda, limited police numbers, strained resources, assaults on police and ongoing bottle-shop duties as pseudo security guards.

There can be no question the impact on staffing levels at crisis point in many locations is playing its part in delivering this resounding message at ballot. The NT’s police put their uniform on every shift, they put their heads down and they get to work.

This ballot was one of few opportunities for them to provide such obvious feedback, and these results are telling and should not be underestimated or disregarded.

While some may argue many of the operational challenges faced by our police are not relevant in a vote for a new wage deal, we disagree. In fact, we say the opposite. Work-life balance, sufficient resourcing and a safe and secure workplace all play a significant part in determining the satisfaction of anyone’s workplace, and police are no different. At a time when police across the Territory are under stress and strain, when in remote locations from Arnhem Land to the central desert, many remote police stations are understaffed or are left to fend alone at a time when the continual priority is bottleshop duties over the police work, they are simply at breaking point, frustrated at the lack of focus on core policing roles.

The Northern Territory Police Association, the industrial body representing almost all the Territory’s police, respects the current economic climate the Gunner Government is under.

Our respect of this position has been represented throughout the negotiation process.

But this is not just about money, it’s about being fair.

This week’s unprecedented ballot result shows our ever- thinning blue line does not accept being pushed into a fouryear deal, which would take the next negotiations out of the electoral cycle and past the next Territory election.

For the past 12 years our police have had three-year wage deals. Policing evolves quickly, so to expect them to wait four years to renegotiate is not acceptable to our members, the Territory’s police.

Like other industries, our officers’ employment conditions should reflect the current requirements and responsibilities our police work under as much as practically possible. Four years is a long time, by anyone’s count.

Unless the Government can provide a genuine reason for a shift to four years, we have no choice but to maintain that it is purely a political decision. It’s simply not fair that our hardworking, professional police, who work in dangerous and unpredictable environments every day, are the same people who remain without a pay rise since June of this year due to uncharacteristically long negotiations.

Our members call on the Commissioner of Police to seek a swift resolution to this matter with Government and meet with us at the negotiating table to discuss a revised offer.

All the while, the community can rest assured our police will keep serving and protecting you, day in, day out, without fear or favour.

Paul McCue is the president of the Northern Territory Police Association.