NSW Police officers have overwhelmingly voted to accept the NSW Government’s historic four-year pay agreement.
The vote was slated to run for two weeks but The Police Association of NSW (PANSW) this morning called the result, with 96% of members having voted ‘yes’ – the largest turnout on record for such a vote.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said she was “proud and delighted to have delivered this historic breakthrough for our police”.
“It’s the result of a lot of hard work over almost a year and tough negotiations,” she said.
“I want to pay tribute to the leadership of the Police Association of NSW. They are hard bargainers and go all out to achieve results for their members, NSW cops. Working together, we’ve achieved a monumental result for our cops.
“From day one in this job I’ve said I’m only here to back the police. Officers risk their lives every day to keep us safe and it’s critical we recognise and thank them with a pay rise they deserve.
“This is generational change that will pay police properly for the first time in more than a decade. It will attract a lot of recruits and, crucially, encourage a lot of experienced officers to stay on in a police force that values them, their service and their unique knowledge.”
The reform also includes a one-off payment and improvements to allowances and pay-scales.
The pay rise is being funded through reform of the Police Blue Ribbon Insurance (PBRI) scheme, bringing it into Government ownership to return money to front-line police and not into the profits of private insurance companies.
The new Enhanced Police Officer Support Scheme better supports injured officers, wraps services around them and is intensively focussed on helping them get back to work wherever possible.
Police Association members voted to accept:
- 19% base pay increase to non-commissioned officers over four years, plus allowances which will enhance this base pay rise;
- Accelerated pay scales – it currently takes 16 years for a Probationary Constable to reach the top level of Senior Constable. It will now take just 10 years;
- Consolidation of pay scales for Senior Constables, Sergeants and Inspectors to remove overlapping pay scales, retain experienced officers much longer and accelerate progression for currently serving officers;
- Updated and improved allowances;
- Moving to a full-time equivalent (FTE) model to allow police to work part-time or job share if they can’t manage a full-time work load but don’t want to leave, a landmark reform;
- A one-off $5,400 Leadership Retention Payment to senior police officers who undertake a leadership and wellbeing training program focused on supporting and rehabilitating injured officers and helping them return to work wherever possible;
Under the new agreement, the starting salary of a Probationary Constable – including loading – will increase from $81,517 to $84,777 and further increase to $97,206 by 2027.
The salary of a Senior Constable Level 1 – including loading – will increase from 101,516 to 105,577 and further increase to $121,054 in 2027.
“This four-year pay agreement with The Police Association of NSW recognises and rewards the efforts of our officers,” said Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis.
“We were elected on a mandate to fix the recruitment and retention crisis in essential services and that is what we are doing.”
