Victoria Police remain locked in stalemate over pay deal negotiations

Victoria is facing the prospect of escalating industrial action by its police force as it fights for a new pay deal, with Premier Jacinta Allan urged to intervene and end the dispute.

Victorian police remain locked in a stalemate over negotiations for a new pay deal, with members to vote this week on increased industrial action.

The state opposition on Monday called for Premier Jacinta Allan to intervene in the protracted dispute.

But Ms Allan, refusing to comment on the threat of increased action, said she was confident that a resolution could be achieved.

“There’s been ongoing conversations and discussions, I’m not going to comment on those discussions publicly,” she said.

“Those discussions are best had around the negotiating table, where it is my expectation that is the place where these things are these arrangements are resolved.

“I am keen to see the parties remain focused on resolving negotiations at the negotiating table.

“That’s the expectation of the government in terms of both sides.”

Premier Jacinta Allan said she is confident a resolution could be achieved. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Allan also refused to concede that negotiations were being hampered by Victoria’s worsening economic situation — with the latest budget update forecasting debt to blow out a further $6.4bn than predicted in May’s budget to $178bn by 2027.

“For some time now we’ve had a well established and well reported wages policy that we have set for all of our public sector enterprise bargaining negotiations,” she said.

“It’s our expectation that negotiators operate within that wages policy and also operate within an environment that they stay around the table and negotiate to get an outcome.”

Police are fighting for a 4 per cent wage increase — 1 per cent higher than the government’s wages cap — as well as a “cost of living adjustment”, and the introduction of nine-hour shifts.

The state’s 17,800 unionised officers will this week vote to approve an escalation in industrial action that has been ongoing since December 3 as part of the protracted pay dispute.

They include a ban on issuing penalty notices except those relating to drink or drug driving, or other notices that trigger an immediate loss of license including hoon offences.

Shadow Attorney-General Michael O'Brien is urging the Premier to intervene and end the stalemate. Picture: David Crosling

Police would also refuse to patrol major events including next month’s Australian Open under voluntary duties meaning the government would face a massive bill to ensure a police presence.

And officers would also refuse to serve subpoenas for the Office of Public Prosecutions or attend court hearings unless forced in a move that would see the justice system thrown into chaos.

Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien urged Ms Allan to intervene to end the stalemate.

“It seems that wherever you turn in Victoria, we’re seeing more industrial action,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We need the premier to step up, sort out these problems, whether it’s with the firefighters union, whether it’s with the police association, we’ve seen essential services under threat because the government can’t sit down and negotiate in good faith.

“And that’s just not acceptable in the lead up to Christmas.”

The government is also facing industrial action by firefighters, emergency-call taker staff, and the state’s 56,000 public servants.