The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) says the election of a new Country Liberal Party (CLP) Government reflects the clear mandate from Territorians that addressing record levels of crime and community safety are their top priorities.
NTPA President, Nathan Finn yesterday met with Chief Minister-Elect, Lia Finocchiaro MLA, (both pictured) to discuss the Association’s policing priorities and the CLP’s commitments to its members.
“I welcome the opportunity to meet with Mrs Finocchiaro on just her second day in the role, following her meeting yesterday with Commissioner of Police Mr Michael Murphy APM. This shows a commitment to our members and supporting them in their role,” said Mr Finn.
“Mrs Finocchiaro also reaffirmed her decision to personally hold the Police Portfolio, a responsibility that has traditionally been carried by the Chief Minister. The NTPA welcomes this decision and the prioritisation of our members.
“We outlined key priorities around recruitment and retention, mental health and wellbeing support, fatigue management, overtime, assaults on police, remote policing, housing, internal discipline, point of sale intervention, and second-tier policing.”
You can read the CLP’s response HERE.
“I also outlined how the Chief Minister-Elect can support NT police on a national level with lobbying of her federal counterparts on:
- Fringe benefit tax (FBT) concessions reforms of up to $17,000, in line with public hospital and ambulance service workers; and
- Introduction of a Blue Card covering medical and allied health services, to match the concessions available to Australian Defence forces.
“I look forward to a positive working relationship with the new Chief Minister, and the new government, to work together in the best interests of our members,” said Mr Finn.
Meanwhile, the Police Federation of Australia (PFA) has commended the incoming Chief Minister and the CLP on their weekend election win, and for their commitment to making crime reduction and community safety a top priority for the new NT Government.
“But you can’t have strong, safe communities without strong, healthy police numbers,” said Police Federation of Australia CEO, Scott Weber.
“Right now, NT Police have more than 200 unfilled positions due to unmet recruitment needs, record levels of crime, harm and violence in the community and lack of mental health and wellbeing support for members.”
The PFA is calling on Ms Finocchiaro to meet with her Federal Government counterparts as soon as possible, “to insist they make two simple changes that will make a very big difference to the working conditions of our policemen and women”.
“We ask Ms Finocchiaro to urge the federal government to grant police officers the same additional tax and health concessions as frontline public health workers, ambulance officers and defence personnel, particularly fringe benefit tax (FBT) concessions reforms and the introduction of a Blue Card covering medical and allied health services,” said Mr Weber.
“NT Police are here to support and protect NT communities. But to do that, we need this new NT government to support and protect NT Police.
“Our Federal Government has already introduced these concessions to support other frontline workers. It is not only fair, it is absolutely necessary to support police officers in the same way,” he said.
