Police officers offered seven per cent pay increase

20/6/98

Western Australian Police officers have been offered a seven per cent increase in their salaries and allowances by the State Government.

Police Minister John Day said that if the Enterprise Agreement was accepted, it would mean the State Government had increased the pay packets of police officers by 24 per cent over a three-year period.

The offer was the culmination of negotiations with the WA Police Union that commenced in February this year and if accepted would replace the existing Enterprise Agreement which expired on May 3, 1998.

The Minister said the State Government recognised the difficult and sometimes dangerous job of being a police officer.

"Police officers work at the frontline in the community's fight against crime and they deserve all the assistance and support this Government and the people of WA can give," Mr Day said.

The seven per cent increase in salary, increments, on call/close call/standby allowances and shift penalties has been offered to nearly 4,700 sworn police officers and 104 Aboriginal Liaison Officers. The pay increase has also been offered to the 1,180 unsworn staff at the WA Police Service.

A 3.5 per cent salary increase will be payable on registration of the agreement with the balance payable after 12 months.

Mr Day said that under the agreement the additional payment for officers in charge of country police stations would be doubled to $4,680 per annum and a $2,340 payment to officers in charge of metropolitan police stations.

He said the State Government supported moves to amend the Occupational, Safety and Health Act to cover police officers and for legislation to provide vicarious liability for officers acting in good faith.

Media contact: Mark Thompson 9322 2311