Police vs state showdown looms after pay deal rejected

Victoria Police has rejected a recommendation to introduce nine-hour shifts for frontline cops in a move that could pit chief commissioner Shane Patton at war with the Allan government.

Victoria Police has rejected the recommendations that would have ended the pay deal stalemate between them and the Police Association. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victoria Police has rejected a recommendation to introduce nine-hour shifts for frontline cops in a move that pits Chief Commissioner Shane Patton against the Allan government.

In what risks becoming the biggest breakdown in relations between the police force and government in more than a decade, Mr Patton said the ­recommendation would undermine public safety.

The move has dashed any hope of ending the pay deal stalemate between Victoria Police and the Police Association, with the recommendation to now be arbitrated by Industrial Relations Victoria.

It has also sparked significant angst within the Allan government, which backs the proposed new roster.

Victoria Police has rejected a recommendation to introduce nine-hour shifts for frontline cops. Picture: Zizi Averill

On Tuesday, Police Minister Anthony Carbines refused to say whether he backed the union’s push for the introduction of nine-hour shifts.

Appearing before a parliamentary inquiry, Mr Carbines refused to outline the government’s view saying it would be inappropriate amid ongoing negotiations between Victoria Police, the Police Association and an independent mediator.

But he denied there was any conflict between the government and chief commissioner Shane Patton.

“I reject any claims that there is conflict,” he said.

“The Chief Commissioner has always and always will have the full support and confidence of me as the minister.

“We are a great team. We work very hard together to keep crime down and the community safe.”

Failure to negotiate a new pay deal could lead to further police industrial action, which was paused in December after a breakthrough in negotiations saw the state government, Victoria Police and the Police Association agreeing to implement the new nine-hour-day model providing it didn’t incur an ­additional cost or require additional police numbers.

Force chiefs have estimated that the change – which would see officers working nine days in a fortnight instead of 10 – would effectively result in 2400 less staff being available.

The rejection of the deal could pit chief commissioner Shane Patton against the Allan government. Picture: Jason Edwards

Such a large reduction could see significant numbers of police stations being permanently closed to the public and/or large numbers of vans pulled off the roads – particularly proactive patrols – and certain crimes being less ­thoroughly investigated.

One police source said: “I’ve never seen our workforce so divided on an issue.”

It is understood that force command will make a submission to Industrial Relations Victoria (IRV) by Wednesday.

The nine-hour-day, nine-day-fortnight (9x9) model has been the key union demand and has delayed negotiations on a 4 per cent wage increase as well as a “cost-of-living ­adjustment”.

“Back in December, Victoria Police, the government and the police association signed a deed of agreement, fundamentally a contract, that they would design and develop nine-hour rosters, and they had a working party that came up with a solution, and it went through executive command,” one senior officer said.

“Despite the fact they signed that contract, they reneged on it, and they continue to renege on it, even when the independent mediator has put forward a ­viable solution in staggered nine-hour shifts.”

Mr Patton told his officers that the force could not accept the mediator’s recommendations. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Patton told his officers on Monday that the force could not accept the mediator’s recommendations.

His bulletin to members said: “The requirements for implementation of 9x9 rostering as set out in the deed signed by Victoria Police, TPAV and the Victorian government in December were, in a nutshell, no significant cost increases, no extra police officers and no impact on community safety. Myself and Executive Command have real concerns in respect to each of those criteria being able to be met on 9x9 rostering.”

Mr Patton’s role required him to put the safety of the Victorian community at the forefront of every decision, he said. “As a result, we have now officially entered arbitration and an independent arbitrator from Industrial Relations Victoria (IRV) will make a decision on whether 9x9 rostering can be implemented,” he said.

Mr Patton added he would be on planned leave from Monday until the end of June, but assured he would be in regular contact with his command colleagues and stay involved in decision making so there was no impact on the issue or negotiations.

A Police Association spokesperson said the rejection was disappointing.