Police helicopter, patrol cars gate crash press conference amid pay dispute

Police in one state have pulled out all stops to crash a press conference and highlight their plight as a pay dispute intensifies.

Victorian police have crashed the Acting Premier’s press conference as a pay dispute with the Allan Labor government intensifies.

A scheduled press conference at the Wallaby childcare centre in Werribee, in Melbourne’s southwest, was derailed when a police helicopter began circling above, while patrol cars with industrial action slogans positioned themselves within view of TV cameras.

The location of the press conference had to be moved after police cars with union slogans on them were positioned in the background of the media’s camera angle. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

After moving to a new location, Acting Premier Ben Carroll was forced to address the matter at a conference that was supposed to focus on the provision of free books to prep students.

“Look, we are committed to giving our police every resource, including a pay rise,” he said.

“The matter is back now at Fair Work for conciliation later this week, and we hope to see some results.”

Ben Carroll says the government hopes to ‘see some results’ from the Fair Work Commission’s consideration of the matter later this week. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The demonstration comes amid an ongoing pay dispute between the police and the government.

The Victoria Police Association has been advocating for a 6 cent annual salary rise over a four-year period in an ongoing pay dispute that has lasted more than 18 months.

Just last month, the Fair Work Commission decided not to step in, compelling Victoria Police and the union to resume negotiations.

The demonstration marks a new escalation in the battle for better pay. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Addressing the matter outside Werribee police station, Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the government’s failure to negotiate a deal with police was unacceptable.

“The Victoria Police Association are saying one of the biggest obstacles in the way of recruiting people here in Victoria is the Victorian government’s refusal to go to the table and negotiate to get a pay deal out of the way, to ensure that they can protect every Victorian and get the resources they need,” he said.

“Why don’t the government sit with the Victoria Police, like they did with the nurses, ambulance, teachers, and come to a deal that ensures that we can end the war on Victoria Police, show them the respect they need, and give them the opportunity to go out and recruit so we’ve got the police numbers in the growing communities that we need them.”

Mr Battin said it was unacceptable that the government still hadn’t been able to reach a deal with police. Picture: Supplied

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed they were “aware the air wing was circling above a government press conference in Werribee this morning.”

“We understand this was part of industrial action,” they said.

“Victoria Police is making further inquiries about the circumstances of this matter.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, police union chief Wayne Gatt said the union members in the air wing unit “were probably searching for a fair pay rise to be honest”.

Asked if it was a waste of taxpayer money, Mr Gatt said: “No, our members are in the air all the time. They are always out there trying to respond to jobs regularly. If they found themselves above some commotion on the ground and felt the need to support their colleagues, then we would expect that to occur.”

Mr Gatt added that association members “want this dispute to come to an end quickly, but they’ve come to realise the only place the government is probably going to listen to them is in the electorate of Werribee because their letters aren’t being returned, their phone calls aren’t being answered”.

“It’s high time this was dealt with.”

Originally published as Police helicopter, patrol cars gate crash press conference amid pay dispute