Dutton dangles tax perks to keep cops from leaving the force

In a last-minute election pledge, Peter Dutton has vowed to hold a parliamentry inquiry to investigate tax perks for police officers, after the union took aim at both sides of politics.

Queensland's Police Union has gone after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton.

A Peter Dutton government would hold a parliamentary inquiry over possible tax perks to keep police in the job around the country, in a last-minute pledge by the LNP before the federal election.

The Queensland Police Union, along with the Police Federation of Australia, says officers should have the same benefits as nurses, paramedics and the military for issues including salary sacrificing and gold standard health care access.

Last week the QPU released tongue-in-cheek Western-styled “missing in action” posters of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Dutton after both leaders had been silent on the issue.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton was a police officer before entering politics. Picture: Adam Head

A day later Police Federation boss Scott Weber wrote to both leaders.

Senator James Paterson responded to say a Dutton government would hold a parliamentary inquiry into the police recruitment and retention crisis, to look for possible solutions.

“The inquiry will canvass, among other things, the proposals in your letter including fringe benefit tax concessions, a Blue Card covering medical and allied health services, and early access to superannuation for police officers,” Senator Paterson wrote.

Labor said it would continue to examine approaches to preventing family violence, including an Australian pilot of rapid video response.

The response from Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus did not agree to the proposals or to hold an inquiry.

“A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will put the recruitment and retention challenge on the agenda of the Police Ministers Council and work with all jurisdictions on a national police retention strategy,” he said in his response.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Jason Edwards

After releasing the mug shots, Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said there were thousands of police vacancies around the nation because of the lack of incentives to stay in policing.

“This is a lighthearted Australian way of addressing a very serious issue that is essentially turning into a community safety crisis,” Mr Prior said of the mug shot photos.

“I’m calling on leaders from all sides of politics to take immediate action.

“Back our police and commit to introducing salary sacrifice options for police mortgages and deliver a ‘blue card’ that gives free top tier medical care for every officer who puts their life and body on the line to protect their community every single day.

“Our defence personnel are valued and get this and so should our police.

“Police we need to train and guide the next generation of police are leaving and in light of 7000 police vacancies down the eastern seaboard of Australia, no longer can it be claimed that policing is just a state issue,” he said.

Mr Prior said police unions around the country and the Police Federation of Australia had met with both Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton earlier this year.

“Our community would be lost without our valuable men and women in blue but neither side of politics has found a decent way to reward their courage and commitment,” Mr Prior said.

“Rewards police with tax relief and they will feel valued. Give them salary sacrifice options like the Federal Government has done with the health profession.

“If we can’t keep our community safe at home, why are we sending tens of millions of dollars overseas in international aid? We can fund this very easily with modest cuts to the international aid budget.”