South Australia’s 5000-strong police force has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Government’s new Enterprise Agreement offer, in a move that locks-in 2 per cent per annum pay rises over the next three years and improved flexibility and other working conditions.
A three-week state-wide ballot, which ended this week, resulted in 94 per cent of those police officers who returned a ballot voting in favour of the agreement that was the outcome of productive negotiations with the Police Association of South Australia.
Treasurer Rob Lucas welcomed the result as a ‘resounding vote of confidence’ in the Marshall Liberal Government’s commitment to investing in strong local policing and its dedicated, expert workforce.
“We are delighted that our dedicated police officers, who work tirelessly each day to keep South Australia safe and protected, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of our Enterprise Agreement offer,” said Mr Lucas.
“This offer delivers exceptionally fair and reasonable salary increases of 2 per cent per annum over the next three years and improved working conditions and flexibility.
“For example, the Police Association supports legislative changes that will bring current protective security officers within the Police Act and enable them to be allocated work such as crowd management and to deliver summons and warrants, freeing up more police officers to be put back into frontline roles.”
The South Australia Police Enterprise Agreement 2021 provides for 2 per cent annual increases paid from the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2021, 1 January 2022, 1 January 2023 and 1, January 2024.
An application will be made to the SA Employment Tribunal to approve the agreement.
Enterprise agreements have previously been reached for nurses and midwives, teachers and school services officers, tram drivers and train drivers.