‘Members will engage in industrial action for as long as it takes to achieve objective’: Wayne Gatt

Police could stop issuing penalties for driving offences outside the most serious breaches and refuse to patrol major events such as the Australian Open as part of an escalating pay dispute.

Police would stop issuing penalty notices for speeding offences except in the most serious cases as part of escalating industrial action over a new wage deal.

The state government would also face a massive bill to police major events and the justice system would grind to a halt under measures approved by the Fair Work Commission this week.

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

It would take effect from early in the new year.

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

Drivers in these situations would not be issued penalty notices but could receive a court summons.

Police would also refuse to do voluntary extra shifts patrolling major events, including next month’s Australian Open.

Police could refuse to patrol major events like the Australian Open next month. Picture: Supplied

This would leave the government facing a massive bill to ensure a police presence at the events and could result in officers being taken off the beat, or investigations, to cover them.

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.

The threat of increased action comes amid a stalemate in negotiations with sources confirming the last meeting between officials lasted just seven minutes.

The union is fighting for a 4 per cent wage increase, as well as a “cost-of-living adjustment”, and the introduction of nine-hour shifts.

Members have already plastered slogans on police cars, hijacked Premier Jacinta Allan’s press conferences and stopped ministerial briefings.

They have also stopped working overtime without claiming for payments and have been warning motorists of speed camera locations.

Police Association boss Wayne Gatt said further action was necessary to progress ­negotiations.

“For the first phase of industrial action our members were very clear, they didn’t want to take industrial action, that it wasn’t necessary, but they felt forced to take it,” he said.

“The same remains for escalation. But we’re absolutely confident that if anything, our members’ resolve has only strengthened over the past 14 days, not weakened.

“They remain committed to being treated decently and with respect, to being provided fair recompense for their work and conditions that keep them safe and well at work.”

Mr Gatt said he was confident members would back a move to escalate industrial action but added that police were open to proper negotiation.

Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“We remain entirely committed to negotiating in good faith with the government towards an outcome that addresses our members’ key concerns,” he said.

“Our members will engage in industrial action for as long as it takes to achieve that objective.

“It’s disappointing because they’ve got plenty of other things that they would like to get on with. There’s plenty more in their day that they could focus on. But they are left with no choice but to use ­industrial action as a means to get the government’s ­attention.

“If they haven’t noticed, there is still a police force, albeit in dwindling numbers, and they need their help.”

The force’s most recent four-year workplace agreement ­expired on November 30.

In September, the Herald Sun revealed concerns that major crimes including sexual assaults were taking up to three years to be investigated because of staff shortages.

Stations were also closing unexpectedly, intervention orders were not being served on time and police vans were sitting empty.

More than 800 Victoria Police employees remain off duty on WorkCover while 500 police have left the force on average over the past four years.

In 2019, police staged four days of industrial action after EBA negotiations broke down.

It ended after the union reached an agreement with the government for 2 per cent annual wage rises and bonuses for higher ranked officers.

The proposed escalation of action comes with the government under attack on several fronts.

V/Line conductors, train controllers and customer service staff walked off the job for four hours yesterday, bringing the network to a halt and sparking chaos, cancellations and delays throughout the day.

The United Firefighters Union and Community and Public Sector Union are also battling the government, while the ambulance workers’ deal is set to expire after Christmas.