Police union calls for NTG to patch up ‘substantial gaps’ in resourcing after budget blowout

The police union has called on the Territory government to patch up ‘substantial gaps in the workforce’ after NT Police went millions over budget following a blowout in overtime.

THE police union has called on the Territory government to patch up “substantial gaps in the workforce” after NT Police went $4m over budget following a blowout in overtime.

NT Police Association president Paul McCue said the budget blowout revealed in parliamentary estimates showed the force was reliant on regular overtime for core, frontline policing.

“Police have been on the frontline of this global pandemic, with some police pulled away from their families for weeks on end to man border control points and keep Territorians safe,” he said.

“We have seen many members redeployed to Operation Crown, which has led to a shortage of staff in many work units.

“It is not good enough that members are needed to work regular overtime just to get the job done.”

Mr McCue said the “burnout” had resulted in NT Police’s attrition rate doubling over the past 12 months.

“We are seeing our members fatigued and suffering burnout, recreation leave cancelled, a risk of increased sick leave and unfortunately many have chosen to leave the force,” he said.

“The government must ensure our members have the staffing and resourcing to do their job and we call on the government to commit to additional police to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our members long term.”

Police Minister Nicole Manison said the increase to the overtime budget was a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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“We have always said we will do everything to save lives and save jobs and the police play a critical role in that and I think it is fair to say that the community expects police to provide that support through the pandemic,” she said.

“As government we recognise that it’s important that we fund these things.”

Ms Manison said the government had increased NT Police’s baseline budget.

“But it has to be acknowledged that in the last two years there has been the Covid-19 pandemic and no one could foresee where it was going,” she said.

“Most importantly our police always step up to the challenge and they have done a magnificent job.”

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