Unauthorised police helicopter used in pay dispute stunt

Victoria Police is investigating the unauthorised use of a helicopter to disrupt the acting premier’s press conference in an apparent escalation of an ongoing pay dispute between the police union and the state government.

Ben Carroll was addressing the media at a childcare centre in Werribee on Tuesday when a police helicopter began circling overhead. The acting premier moved the press conference after police also pulled up in cars with messages scrawled on the windows criticising the government’s stance on the pay dispute.

Victoria Police and its officers are in a long-running dispute over pay.Credit: Eddie Jim

Victoria Police says it is making inquiries into the helicopter’s movements.

The decision to deploy it was made by a police union delegate, not the force. It costs $10,000 an hour to operate the helicopter.

“We understand this was part of industrial action,” a police spokesperson said. “Victoria Police is making further inquiries about the circumstances of this matter.”

The air wing had a job in Doncaster but afterwards the helicopter bypassed its Essendon base and travelled straight to Werribee.

When questioned about the air wing’s appearance at his press conference, Ben Carroll said the government was hoping the industrial dispute would be resolved soon.

“We are committed to giving our police, every resource, including a pay rise,” said Carroll.

The EBA negotiations are heading to the Fair Work Commission for conciliation talks later this week. Earlier this month, the commission decided not to intervene in the increasingly bitter pay dispute, which has been going for more than 18 months.

The Police Association is demanding a 24 per cent pay rise over four years and an end to unpaid overtime. The union has been unable to come to an agreement with Victoria Police and is calling for the government to provide a better offer.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt. Credit: Christopher Hopkins

Association secretary Wayne Gatt said officers were becoming increasingly frustrated.

“Our members are out there searching for a pay deal at the end of the day,” said Gatt.

“They want this dispute to go away quickly, but look, they’ve quickly come to realise that the only place the government’s probably going to listen to them is in the electorate of Werribee because their phone calls aren’t being returned.”

Gatt said police officers were vexed that the government had not been able to solve the dispute and at Victoria Police’s inability to get a deal done quickly.

The state government and opposition are frequently visiting Werribee, ahead of a crucial byelection in the electorate, following former treasurer Tim Pallas’ resignation late last year.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin, a former police officer, said: “The Police Association, for 18 months, have been trying to get the government to the table.”

The government was contacted for comment.

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