NT Police Association pleads for a pay rise amid Territory’s crime crisis

The NT Police Association says the Territory is on track to lose at least 160 officers each year as ’woeful‘ wage negotiations drag on. Here’s how long the union’s been fighting for a pay rise.

The police union predicts the Territory will lose at least 160 officers each year as the government continues to “drag the chain” on offering a decent pay rise.

Northern Territory Police Association acting president Owen Blackwell said members had been without a pay rise for 18 months.

“After Labor’s embarrassing pay freeze backflip, the only offer our members have had from government is an insulting two per cent, per annum, for the next three years,” Mr Blackwell said.

“We have been clear all along – less than what our members deserve simply won’t cut it.

“It’s been 12 months since negotiations started.

Northern Territory Police Association acting president Owen Blackwell said the pay rise offer of two per cent per annum for the next three years was “woeful” and “insulting”. Picture: Helen Orr

“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.”

The union’s renewed plea comes ahead of EBA negotiations reconvening at the end of January.

Police Minister Kate Worden said she hoped an offer could be agreed upon soon.

“There’s been a lot of back and forth with (NTPA) quite recently,” Ms Worden said.

“There’s always some games that go on during EBA negotiations, but I do hope we come to a solution with police sooner rather than later.

“They work incredibly hard and like any of our frontline services they deserve a pay rise.”

NTPA said the attrition rate in the force was now more than 10 per cent.

“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,” Mr Blackwell said

“Victoria Police announced (last week) it will contact more than 40,000 potential recruits … 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?”

Police, Fire, and Emergency Services Minister Kate Worden visited Alice Springs last week following national attention on the Central Australian town’s crime crisis. Picture: Kate Worden/Facebook

However Ms Worden said NT Police’s ongoing recruitment was at “record numbers”.

“Most of them are Territorians so we know people locally want to join our police force,” she said.

“We’ve got to make sure these are jobs people want to take on – that they’re being looked after.

“A big part of that is making sure they’re not called out to alcohol-fuelled situations every night.

“We’ve worked extensively on the wellbeing of police, we have the wellbeing strategy that’s being formulated now.”

Originally published as NT Police Association pleads for a pay rise amid Territory’s crime crisis