‘Generational’ wage rise to make state’s cops top-paid Coffs Coast Nambucca Valley by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 15, 2024November 15, 2024 Police officers in NSW have been offered a big jump in pay by the state government. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS. A “GENERATIONAL” pay increase of up to 40 percent is set to make NSW police the best paid in the nation as the force battles crippling officer shortages. More than 10,000 constables, senior constables and sergeants will receive increases of at least 25 percent before shift allowances while pay scales have been simplified. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au It means the salary for a level-three senior constable will jump from $107,600 to $146,600 by mid-2027. The four-year deal, which includes back pay to July 1, is in line with what the union had demanded and officials have asked members to accept the government’s offer. “We set the bar high and for good reason,” Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton told members on Monday. “For the vast majority of members, this is a generational change to your award. “This offer will see the highest pay increases achieved in the last 30 years for NSW Police (and) outstrips what we have seen accepted by other public-sector agencies.” The offer introduces a $5400 leadership retention payments for senior officers and allowances for training first-year officers. Commissioned officers – such as inspectors and superintendents – will receive increases of between 20 and 27 percent, inclusive of the retention payment. The government was proud to have reached an offer that recognised “the difficult and dangerous work police do every day to keep us safe”, Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. The state, which has the nation’s biggest police force, has been dealing with a debilitating shortage of officers and operating at several thousand positions short of full strength. A deal and avoiding industrial action is much needed for the Minns Labor government, which is mired in pay disputes with several public-sector unions for key frontline workers. The coalition, which oversaw a wages cap in government, said Labor was unwilling to stand up to unions. “The consequence of that is industrial chaos in NSW,” Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said. Premier Chris Minns dismissed any suggestion the state’s new industrial court and bargaining system was not working. “Bit by bit, week by week, we’ve been landing what we regard as fair increases in salaries and conditions across the public sector,” he told reporters. “I’m hopeful to announce more soon.” By Luke COSTIN, AAP
