Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we've just been discussing. We know Northern Territory Parliament
yesterday passing legislation which will mean we have the strongest
bail laws in Australia, the Chief Minister said on the
show yesterday corrections and police will be reviewing who's on bail.
We also know changes are not only going to impact
the decisions that judges make, but also our Northern Territory police. However,
(00:22):
in conjunction with that, we also have the police going
through a consent agreement when it comes to their pay.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
And joining me in the studio.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Is the Northern Territory Police Association President Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning to you, Finny.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Good morning, Katy, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Phinny lots to cover off on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Firstly, what was the reaction from the police to these
urgent changes that passed through yesterday?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
With respect Katie, the government, can you reduce the new
bail laws. But without a properly funded police force and
a properly supported police force, they are meaningless to us.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So from your perspective, this will make no difference.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
This police have an obligation to bail and have obligations
to comply with the legislation requires. We'll always do that, Katie,
and we always make sure that we're maintaining the safety
of the public, and the safety of the public is
our prime opportunity when we are considering bail.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
But so I suppose from your perspective, as the president
of the Police Association, do you think it's going to
make any difference in terms of who's being bailed.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We haven't really had time to review what has come
out of yesterday, Katie. We've been tied up with the
negotiations with the consent agreement. But just like to say
that this government was elected on a law and order platform,
a platform that relies entirely on police to deliver, and
yet it comes to back in their own front line,
they vanish and our members are frustrated, Katie. Our members
are pissed off.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So from your perspective today, you're not even worried about
this legislation. You are concerned about the consent agreement.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I'm worried about the retention of our hard working police
officers that are out there keeping the community safe every day,
and if they haven't got the support of this government,
they will not have a safe community to live and
work in. For anyone in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So, Finny, what are you saying that we're going to
have in drives?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We've had hundreds of emails, Katie since the offer first
come out on on Monday. Well, I've got a twenty
page document of summary of all the comments that have
been provided back to us. They are angry, they are frustrated.
They see this as a slap in the face. They
see this government as saying something and doing something totally different.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Talk our listeners through, because, to be honest, like since
Thursday last week, so we've had a week of covering
the tragic death of Linford Fike and that has been
majorly what we've been talking about on the show. So
for a lot of people listening this morning, they may
have heard a little bit about these pay negotiations happening,
but they're going to be pretty surprised, I would suggest
(02:38):
by what you're hearing what they're hearing this morning, they're
going to sort of be going, oh, hang on a sec,
what are we talking about? So where exactly are these
negotiations at and what are the Police Association calling for?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, definitely, Katie and our members are frustrated and what
we've seen in the last week. This is not unusual
and unfortunately, this is something our members have to face
day in, day out, and members are faced with the
adversity of every day of protecting the innocent people of
the Northern Territory community and upholding the laws of the
Northern Urchy community placing themselves at risks every single day
they go on shift. And this is a sad reality
(03:10):
that if you're not going to support our police, this
place is this place is going to go backwards very quickly.
And our members are really indicating that they are had enough.
They're at breaking point. They've been burnt out for years, Katie.
They've been smashed from pillar to post with controversies from management,
with controversy, pressures from the government, pressures that they join
to protect the community. They haven't had that opportunity to
(03:32):
protect the community. And now the government's decision to place
this offer on the table is placed in the community
at risk.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So what is the offer that they've placed on the table?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So potentially, Katie, is the offer that there is in
what we're being told is that it's demoralizing, disrespectful us
A three percent wage increase, so increase it is not adequate,
it's insulting. It's completely fast to reflect the relentless pressures
that the personal sacrifice that OURNT Police Office endure daily.
We are at rage that the government has framed this
(04:03):
to take it or leave it ultimatum, basically saying that
threatening to withhold back pay of our current expiration of
our agreement currently that's due in June. This is not
a negotiation, caddie. This is exploitation and a bargaining pad.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So do you feel as though you're being locked out
by the Chief Minister here? Because I know that you
had said you wanted to have those negotiations with the
Chief Minister. She'd said it's an issue for the public
employment minister, I believe.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So do you feel as though.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
You're not able to get to the table with her
and go this is not good enough.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
We haven't had the opportunity to get to that table
with the Chief Minister. She's provided support to us and
has provided support to us in the run up to
our election and then during election as Chief Minister, but
since that point this relationship is going downhill. Our members
are frustrated and members are sick of hearing the words
our police do a great job. How about you shut
(04:52):
up or put up and protect our police officer and
protect their conditions.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
So talk me through then what the situation is with
this house agreement and what police are currently entitled to,
but what the change is going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So the proposal to strip away police housing in Darwin
has completely blindsided us, Katie. This was never flagged during
our negotiations. Our members feel completely ambushed by this. The
chief members assured our members in writing and at our
conference NTPA conference last year that housing wouldn't be taking
considerations in these negotiations, and they are.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So what are police usually entitled to when it comes
to housing?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So housing, there's entitlement to departmental accommodation being provided by
the department, and there's also a housing allowance for those
that choose to purchase their own property, et cetera. Now,
what they're proposing is to take away the department of accommodation.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And only provide the housing housing allowance.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
That's correct. The housing allowance is a tax allowance. Now
our members get whether the department or accommodation is free
of charges, not pat into their total income, and it's
affecting they keeps.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So sorry, So how much money is it in terms
of the allow it's per year.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The allounces are roughly just on thirty one thousand, and
the department in accommodation means it's not tax, it's not
salaried everything else. But the reckless decision to this effects
are currently one hundred and seventy seven police officers in
the Darwin region, so that a decision. And what I've
been told at the negotiation table is that that expense
of the potential saving for that amount is just over
(06:21):
a million dollars. To upset that many police officers for
that little amount of money, Katie, is a disgrace.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Do you feel like it's very short sighted?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
It's very short sighted, and our members are frustrated, and
members are pissed off about it, and they because they've
been reassured that hey, we're not going to touch your
hasing conditions. But now it's on the table.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So Finny, where to from here from your perspective? Because
you sound angry, like you sound like you're really annoyed
by angry.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
But I'm passionate about what our members deserve, what our
members need to do the job that they need to
do with the Northern Territory and for the Chief Minister
to damn play. That's only one hundred and seventy seven
officers in Dawn. The potential of every other member outside
of Dawen that hasn't been into Dawn, that's still an
option for them, and they're taking away that option.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I mean, I've had single parents, police officers' parents. If
this happens, I'm gone. I've had numerous I would say
in excess of one hundred people tell me that this
offer is a slap in the face for our members
and I'm looking at leaving.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So where like, when do you have until to decide
or for the negotiations to end?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So the negotiation period is defined by the current concent agreement,
which was to run from the first of February to
the thirtieth of April.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So it's ended.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So the negotiation period, we're still continuing the negotiations, Katie.
We had our meeting again yesterday. We've planned a meeting
for middle of next week.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Again, who'd you meet with yesterday?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
So I met with the Commissioner of a publican pointment.
The Commissioner of Police was at the table and the
representives from both obviously Nicole Hurwood's office OCP and DCD.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Are you able to give us much detail from what
had happened yesterday in terms of being looks as though
there's some room for movement or what the goes.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
We've told them blatantly that as long as housing is
on the table and they're in their offer, we will
not place that towards our members for a vote. This
is off the table and we will not place that
offer to our members ever, whyle housing.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Is on the table, so you're not even going to
take it to your members until the housing is on
the table.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
They need to negotiate with that off the table and
to come back with us with an offer that actually
rewards our police force.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Finny, I know you said you've got like twenty pages
of comments from officers. I mean some of them might
be a bit a bit colorful, but are you able
to tell me what some of those are like what
people are saying.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
They are totally frustrated, Katie, they are totally Again, we've
seen a cop government that relies upon and keeps going.
We're going to reduce the cost of living our CPI
and over the last three years and our agreement over
the last CPI has failed, has been fallen behind by
five percent the cost of living index within dhar And alone,
that's not including that's in darw And Katie, it's gone
(08:53):
up nearly twenty percent. Way our agreement went up nine percent.
The cost of living is what this platform and the
cop government are pushing both here and a federal level
to reduce the cost of living.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So how much do you reckon what would be acceptable
from the police perspective in terms of that pay increase?
Like three percent is not where it's at. Where should
it be.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Nationally on the average and through the government enterprise bargaining
is we've seen an average of more than five point
four percent nationally. So our members not happy with the
three percent. They see that as a kick in the face.
And we're referring us to all the other public sector staff.
We're at risk of getting sold every day. We're out
there every day. But unfortunately, Katie, our police force is
running on overtime and our members are burnout, and our
(09:34):
members are seeing this as the final point. Do you
know what? Why do I bother? Why are we even
doing what we're doing. We're not going to be supported
by this government.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Finny, do you reckon I mean, if you were able
to get you know, the increase more nationally it's five
point four percent. I mean, if you're able to get
that or more, do you think that we'd see a
situation and the housing where not only would people want
to stay being police officers, but potentially you'd be able
to actually get people here from other locations.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Definitely, Kadian. By removing some of these housing conditions the
attraction for the Northern Territory police. We work in the
harshest conditions within Australia. We work with the highest crime
rate per capita in Australia. We are the busiest police
force in Australia, unquestionable. Our members have burned out. They've
seen time and time again where we support you, we
(10:22):
support you. Well, it's time now to support us or
shut up and let the decisions being made by our
police officer to leave the Northern Territory because that's the
point where they're at and that's disappointing and it's disappointing
from this government, the church and great support for you.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
You know from the community's perspective, like we absolutely want
our hard working police officers to stay living in the
Northern Territory. Goodness me, you've been like the glue holding
the place together in so many ways when we look
at all the issues with crime, I do not know
what will happen if we wind up in a situation
where police officers are leaving more than what we've already
(10:58):
seen in recent years. You know, we've already had an
issue with retention, you know, Finny. It's I know, whenever
I have these discussions right with whichever union it is,
even if it's the nurses union, no matter who it is,
people always say to me, or you know, Katie, are
they being a bit greedy with what they're asking for?
If anybody's out there listening this morning thinking that, what
would you say to them?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
My thought is walk the day in the police's police's
shoes and see what we actually do, see the crime,
the violence and everything that's turned towards us, and downplay
that this removal of the police housing condition within Darwin
only affects one hundred and dann player one hundred and
seventy seven members. You have a think about this, Katie.
One hundred and seventy seven members is more than the
(11:40):
general Duty's members that respond to every job in the
Darwin on a daily basis. When you're talking about one
hundred and seventy seven, that's ten percent of our police
force that you've just told hey, cost of living's just
gone up for you by fifteen to twenty grand a
year because you're going to get an allowance down that's
going to be taxed. And if you think that's acceptable,
you will see and our members will march with their
(12:00):
feet if they don't come back with a suitable offer
for our Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Police officer, what is the situation for police like, can
you you know, can you strike or can you take
industrial action or what would be the next step?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
The next step is us and to continue the negotiation. Cadie.
We've planned a media campaign that's coming out very shortly
to target our police and make sure that they're being supported,
make sure we can currently get the offer, the best
offer we possibly can. Again, there's a number of factors
we can do internally. Again, we can't take strike action.
We don't want to take strike action because at the
end of the day, the community is the prime people
(12:34):
out there that we have to support and they rely
on our police to support them in the time of
their need because at the end of the day, we
don't want to make them suffer because of what the
government's made this decision. At the end of the day,
they're going to suffer anyway because of this decision and
the offer that they're put forward to our members. But again,
we don't want to see them struggle in the community.
We live here. We want to make sure it's a
(12:56):
safe community as well, but we need that support.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Police Association Sident Nathan Finn always appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Thank you very much, and thank you Katie, and I'd
just like to say thank you to the men and
women out there that are feeling the pressure at the moment.
Please stay with us. Please, we have got your back,
and I'll make sure we've got your back and I'll
make sure this government ceased to have your back long
into the future.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Finny, thank you always good to catch up. Thanks for
your time.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thanks Coddy
As we've just been discussing. We know Northern Territory Parliament
yesterday passing legislation which will mean we have the strongest
bail laws in Australia, the Chief Minister said on the
show yesterday corrections and police will be reviewing who's on bail.
We also know changes are not only going to impact
the decisions that judges make, but also our Northern Territory police. However,
(00:22):
in conjunction with that, we also have the police going
through a consent agreement when it comes to their pay.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
And joining me in the studio.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Is the Northern Territory Police Association President Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning to you, Finny.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Good morning, Katy, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Phinny lots to cover off on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Firstly, what was the reaction from the police to these
urgent changes that passed through yesterday?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
With respect Katie, the government, can you reduce the new
bail laws. But without a properly funded police force and
a properly supported police force, they are meaningless to us.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So from your perspective, this will make no difference.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
This police have an obligation to bail and have obligations
to comply with the legislation requires. We'll always do that, Katie,
and we always make sure that we're maintaining the safety
of the public, and the safety of the public is
our prime opportunity when we are considering bail.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
But so I suppose from your perspective, as the president
of the Police Association, do you think it's going to
make any difference in terms of who's being bailed.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We haven't really had time to review what has come
out of yesterday, Katie. We've been tied up with the
negotiations with the consent agreement. But just like to say
that this government was elected on a law and order platform,
a platform that relies entirely on police to deliver, and
yet it comes to back in their own front line,
they vanish and our members are frustrated, Katie. Our members
are pissed off.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So from your perspective today, you're not even worried about
this legislation. You are concerned about the consent agreement.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I'm worried about the retention of our hard working police
officers that are out there keeping the community safe every day,
and if they haven't got the support of this government,
they will not have a safe community to live and
work in. For anyone in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So, Finny, what are you saying that we're going to
have in drives?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We've had hundreds of emails, Katie since the offer first
come out on on Monday. Well, I've got a twenty
page document of summary of all the comments that have
been provided back to us. They are angry, they are frustrated.
They see this as a slap in the face. They
see this government as saying something and doing something totally different.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Talk our listeners through, because, to be honest, like since
Thursday last week, so we've had a week of covering
the tragic death of Linford Fike and that has been
majorly what we've been talking about on the show. So
for a lot of people listening this morning, they may
have heard a little bit about these pay negotiations happening,
but they're going to be pretty surprised, I would suggest
(02:38):
by what you're hearing what they're hearing this morning, they're
going to sort of be going, oh, hang on a sec,
what are we talking about? So where exactly are these
negotiations at and what are the Police Association calling for?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, definitely, Katie and our members are frustrated and what
we've seen in the last week. This is not unusual
and unfortunately, this is something our members have to face
day in, day out, and members are faced with the
adversity of every day of protecting the innocent people of
the Northern Territory community and upholding the laws of the
Northern Urchy community placing themselves at risks every single day
they go on shift. And this is a sad reality
(03:10):
that if you're not going to support our police, this
place is this place is going to go backwards very quickly.
And our members are really indicating that they are had enough.
They're at breaking point. They've been burnt out for years, Katie.
They've been smashed from pillar to post with controversies from management,
with controversy, pressures from the government, pressures that they join
to protect the community. They haven't had that opportunity to
(03:32):
protect the community. And now the government's decision to place
this offer on the table is placed in the community
at risk.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So what is the offer that they've placed on the table?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So potentially, Katie, is the offer that there is in
what we're being told is that it's demoralizing, disrespectful us
A three percent wage increase, so increase it is not adequate,
it's insulting. It's completely fast to reflect the relentless pressures
that the personal sacrifice that OURNT Police Office endure daily.
We are at rage that the government has framed this
(04:03):
to take it or leave it ultimatum, basically saying that
threatening to withhold back pay of our current expiration of
our agreement currently that's due in June. This is not
a negotiation, caddie. This is exploitation and a bargaining pad.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So do you feel as though you're being locked out
by the Chief Minister here? Because I know that you
had said you wanted to have those negotiations with the
Chief Minister. She'd said it's an issue for the public
employment minister, I believe.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So do you feel as though.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
You're not able to get to the table with her
and go this is not good enough.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
We haven't had the opportunity to get to that table
with the Chief Minister. She's provided support to us and
has provided support to us in the run up to
our election and then during election as Chief Minister, but
since that point this relationship is going downhill. Our members
are frustrated and members are sick of hearing the words
our police do a great job. How about you shut
(04:52):
up or put up and protect our police officer and
protect their conditions.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
So talk me through then what the situation is with
this house agreement and what police are currently entitled to,
but what the change is going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So the proposal to strip away police housing in Darwin
has completely blindsided us, Katie. This was never flagged during
our negotiations. Our members feel completely ambushed by this. The
chief members assured our members in writing and at our
conference NTPA conference last year that housing wouldn't be taking
considerations in these negotiations, and they are.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So what are police usually entitled to when it comes
to housing?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So housing, there's entitlement to departmental accommodation being provided by
the department, and there's also a housing allowance for those
that choose to purchase their own property, et cetera. Now,
what they're proposing is to take away the department of accommodation.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And only provide the housing housing allowance.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
That's correct. The housing allowance is a tax allowance. Now
our members get whether the department or accommodation is free
of charges, not pat into their total income, and it's
affecting they keeps.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So sorry, So how much money is it in terms
of the allow it's per year.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The allounces are roughly just on thirty one thousand, and
the department in accommodation means it's not tax, it's not
salaried everything else. But the reckless decision to this effects
are currently one hundred and seventy seven police officers in
the Darwin region, so that a decision. And what I've
been told at the negotiation table is that that expense
of the potential saving for that amount is just over
(06:21):
a million dollars. To upset that many police officers for
that little amount of money, Katie, is a disgrace.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Do you feel like it's very short sighted?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
It's very short sighted, and our members are frustrated, and
members are pissed off about it, and they because they've
been reassured that hey, we're not going to touch your
hasing conditions. But now it's on the table.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So Finny, where to from here from your perspective? Because
you sound angry, like you sound like you're really annoyed
by angry.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
But I'm passionate about what our members deserve, what our
members need to do the job that they need to
do with the Northern Territory and for the Chief Minister
to damn play. That's only one hundred and seventy seven
officers in Dawn. The potential of every other member outside
of Dawen that hasn't been into Dawn, that's still an
option for them, and they're taking away that option.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I mean, I've had single parents, police officers' parents. If
this happens, I'm gone. I've had numerous I would say
in excess of one hundred people tell me that this
offer is a slap in the face for our members
and I'm looking at leaving.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So where like, when do you have until to decide
or for the negotiations to end?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So the negotiation period is defined by the current concent agreement,
which was to run from the first of February to
the thirtieth of April.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So it's ended.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So the negotiation period, we're still continuing the negotiations, Katie.
We had our meeting again yesterday. We've planned a meeting
for middle of next week.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Again, who'd you meet with yesterday?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
So I met with the Commissioner of a publican pointment.
The Commissioner of Police was at the table and the
representives from both obviously Nicole Hurwood's office OCP and DCD.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Are you able to give us much detail from what
had happened yesterday in terms of being looks as though
there's some room for movement or what the goes.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
We've told them blatantly that as long as housing is
on the table and they're in their offer, we will
not place that towards our members for a vote. This
is off the table and we will not place that
offer to our members ever, whyle housing.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Is on the table, so you're not even going to
take it to your members until the housing is on
the table.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
They need to negotiate with that off the table and
to come back with us with an offer that actually
rewards our police force.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Finny, I know you said you've got like twenty pages
of comments from officers. I mean some of them might
be a bit a bit colorful, but are you able
to tell me what some of those are like what
people are saying.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
They are totally frustrated, Katie, they are totally Again, we've
seen a cop government that relies upon and keeps going.
We're going to reduce the cost of living our CPI
and over the last three years and our agreement over
the last CPI has failed, has been fallen behind by
five percent the cost of living index within dhar And alone,
that's not including that's in darw And Katie, it's gone
(08:53):
up nearly twenty percent. Way our agreement went up nine percent.
The cost of living is what this platform and the
cop government are pushing both here and a federal level
to reduce the cost of living.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So how much do you reckon what would be acceptable
from the police perspective in terms of that pay increase?
Like three percent is not where it's at. Where should
it be.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Nationally on the average and through the government enterprise bargaining
is we've seen an average of more than five point
four percent nationally. So our members not happy with the
three percent. They see that as a kick in the face.
And we're referring us to all the other public sector staff.
We're at risk of getting sold every day. We're out
there every day. But unfortunately, Katie, our police force is
running on overtime and our members are burnout, and our
(09:34):
members are seeing this as the final point. Do you
know what? Why do I bother? Why are we even
doing what we're doing. We're not going to be supported
by this government.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Finny, do you reckon I mean, if you were able
to get you know, the increase more nationally it's five
point four percent. I mean, if you're able to get
that or more, do you think that we'd see a
situation and the housing where not only would people want
to stay being police officers, but potentially you'd be able
to actually get people here from other locations.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Definitely, Kadian. By removing some of these housing conditions the
attraction for the Northern Territory police. We work in the
harshest conditions within Australia. We work with the highest crime
rate per capita in Australia. We are the busiest police
force in Australia, unquestionable. Our members have burned out. They've
seen time and time again where we support you, we
(10:22):
support you. Well, it's time now to support us or
shut up and let the decisions being made by our
police officer to leave the Northern Territory because that's the
point where they're at and that's disappointing and it's disappointing
from this government, the church and great support for you.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
You know from the community's perspective, like we absolutely want
our hard working police officers to stay living in the
Northern Territory. Goodness me, you've been like the glue holding
the place together in so many ways when we look
at all the issues with crime, I do not know
what will happen if we wind up in a situation
where police officers are leaving more than what we've already
(10:58):
seen in recent years. You know, we've already had an
issue with retention, you know, Finny. It's I know, whenever
I have these discussions right with whichever union it is,
even if it's the nurses union, no matter who it is,
people always say to me, or you know, Katie, are
they being a bit greedy with what they're asking for?
If anybody's out there listening this morning thinking that, what
would you say to them?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
My thought is walk the day in the police's police's
shoes and see what we actually do, see the crime,
the violence and everything that's turned towards us, and downplay
that this removal of the police housing condition within Darwin
only affects one hundred and dann player one hundred and
seventy seven members. You have a think about this, Katie.
One hundred and seventy seven members is more than the
(11:40):
general Duty's members that respond to every job in the
Darwin on a daily basis. When you're talking about one
hundred and seventy seven, that's ten percent of our police
force that you've just told hey, cost of living's just
gone up for you by fifteen to twenty grand a
year because you're going to get an allowance down that's
going to be taxed. And if you think that's acceptable,
you will see and our members will march with their
(12:00):
feet if they don't come back with a suitable offer
for our Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Police officer, what is the situation for police like, can
you you know, can you strike or can you take
industrial action or what would be the next step?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
The next step is us and to continue the negotiation. Cadie.
We've planned a media campaign that's coming out very shortly
to target our police and make sure that they're being supported,
make sure we can currently get the offer, the best
offer we possibly can. Again, there's a number of factors
we can do internally. Again, we can't take strike action.
We don't want to take strike action because at the
end of the day, the community is the prime people
(12:34):
out there that we have to support and they rely
on our police to support them in the time of
their need because at the end of the day, we
don't want to make them suffer because of what the
government's made this decision. At the end of the day,
they're going to suffer anyway because of this decision and
the offer that they're put forward to our members. But again,
we don't want to see them struggle in the community.
We live here. We want to make sure it's a
(12:56):
safe community as well, but we need that support.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Police Association Sident Nathan Finn always appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Thank you very much, and thank you Katie, and I'd
just like to say thank you to the men and
women out there that are feeling the pressure at the moment.
Please stay with us. Please, we have got your back,
and I'll make sure we've got your back and I'll
make sure this government ceased to have your back long
into the future.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Finny, thank you always good to catch up. Thanks for
your time.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thanks Coddy
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