The NTPA are calling for legislation to support officers with mental health issues

THE NT Police Association is calling for presumptive legislation for officers, meaning if they submit a workers compensation clim for psychological problems, it would be presumed to be a result of work

NT Police Association is calling for legislation to support officers suffering mental health issues

THE association representing police officers is calling for presumptive legislation for officers suffering mental health problems.

The legislation would mean if a police officer had lodged a workers compensation claim for psychological problems, it would be presumed to be a result of work.

Last year BeyondBlue released a report in to Australian police and emergency services mental health and wellbeing.

It found one in three police and emergency services employees experience high or very high psychological distress compared to one in eight Australian adults.

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NT Police Association president Paul McCue said other states such at Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria had or were looking into passing presumptive legislation.

“It effectively reverses the onus of proof in terms of mental health,” he said.

“What that legislation would do is allow the officer to get a claim earlier and get treatment earlier.”

NT Police Association president Paul McCue said the police commissioner had “dropped the ball” recently on supporting officers with mental health problems. Picture: Emma Murray

In 2015 NT fireys were awarded presumptive legislation for those diagnosed with cancer.

Mr McCue said it would pave the way for a law to support and protect police.

He said the Commissioner Reece Kershaw and his executive team had “dropped the ball” recently when it came to supporting officers with mental health problems.

“This Department, as in the Commissioner and his senior executives, need to invest heavily in more welfare services and support services for police, they have probably dropped the ball a little bit on that,” he said.

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Mr McCue said he had spoken with both the Minister for Police Nicole Manison and the Attorney-General Natasha Fyles about introducing presumptive legislation.

Acting Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Eva Lawler said the government was “supportive of NTPFES management as they begin work on examining the prospect of presumptive legislation for PTSD.”