The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) welcomes the result of the recent protected industrial action (PIA) ballot which returned a ‘YES’ vote of 96.73 per cent from 3211 members.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said the outstanding result meant that the possibility of protected industrial action was now a reality and that eligible AFPA members might ultimately take protected industrial action under the protection of the Fair Work Commission’s Order and the Fair Work Act 2009.
“This result sends an extremely strong message to the Federal Government and Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) that AFPA and AFP members are prepared to take action to get better workplace conditions and wages than those currently on offer.
“These members should not be treated the same as traditional public servants and should not be consigned a blanket pay rise which doesn’t properly remunerate them as serving police officers.
“AFPA and AFP members risk their physical and psychological health every day to protect the community, politicians, critical infrastructure, and Australia’s interests. I challenge the APSC and the Federal Government to name a Federal Government department with a broader scope than the AFP.
“Do other public servants get shot at? Do other public servants get assaulted for doing their job? What other public servants have their decisions and integrity scrutinised as heavily as AFP members do? These are questions that the Federal Government knows the answer to, but chooses to ignore,” Mr Caruana said.
Mr Caruana said that the AFPA would continue to negotiate in good faith with the AFP and that the ability to undertake protected industrial action would remain a viable and real option until negotiations have ceased.
“You will not see AFPA members forming a picket line or not responding to incidents. That is not how we operate. Community safety will remain a priority.
“We encourage all members to continue to work to the best of their ability, and if a safe opportunity arises where protected industrial action could be employed, then we will consider it,” Mr Caruana said.
Sworn AFP officers continue to be the lowest base-paid police officers in Australia.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said that being the lowest base-paid police officers in Australia made recruitment and retention difficult.
“The AFP is the Federal Government’s law enforcement and policing agency, charged with protecting Commonwealth interests and enforcing Commonwealth legislation.
“How can the Federal Government say that it values the AFP and its workforce when it chooses to make them the lowest-paid sworn officer cohort in the country?
“These are the same members who protect Parliament House, the same members who would take a bullet for the Prime Minister and other politicians and the same members who will be tasked with protecting AUKUS assets and infrastructure now and into the future.
“For the AFP to recruit the best and brightest, it needs to be competitive in the market. Today, every other police service can say it pays a better base wage to members starting their careers than the AFP does,” Mr Caruana said.
For comments: AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager – Mr Troy Roberts – media@afpa.org.au / 0409 812 690
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) welcomes the result of the recent protected industrial action (PIA) ballot which returned a ‘YES’ vote of 96.73 per cent from 3211 members.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said the outstanding result meant that the possibility of protected industrial action was now a reality and that eligible AFPA members might ultimately take protected industrial action under the protection of the Fair Work Commission’s Order and the Fair Work Act 2009.
“This result sends an extremely strong message to the Federal Government and Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) that AFPA and AFP members are prepared to take action to get better workplace conditions and wages than those currently on offer.
“These members should not be treated the same as traditional public servants and should not be consigned a blanket pay rise which doesn’t properly remunerate them as serving police officers.
“AFPA and AFP members risk their physical and psychological health every day to protect the community, politicians, critical infrastructure, and Australia’s interests. I challenge the APSC and the Federal Government to name a Federal Government department with a broader scope than the AFP.
“Do other public servants get shot at? Do other public servants get assaulted for doing their job? What other public servants have their decisions and integrity scrutinised as heavily as AFP members do? These are questions that the Federal Government knows the answer to, but chooses to ignore,” Mr Caruana said.
Mr Caruana said that the AFPA would continue to negotiate in good faith with the AFP and that the ability to undertake protected industrial action would remain a viable and real option until negotiations have ceased.
“You will not see AFPA members forming a picket line or not responding to incidents. That is not how we operate. Community safety will remain a priority.
“We encourage all members to continue to work to the best of their ability, and if a safe opportunity arises where protected industrial action could be employed, then we will consider it,” Mr Caruana said.
Sworn AFP officers continue to be the lowest base-paid police officers in Australia.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said that being the lowest base-paid police officers in Australia made recruitment and retention difficult.
“The AFP is the Federal Government’s law enforcement and policing agency, charged with protecting Commonwealth interests and enforcing Commonwealth legislation.
“How can the Federal Government say that it values the AFP and its workforce when it chooses to make them the lowest-paid sworn officer cohort in the country?
“These are the same members who protect Parliament House, the same members who would take a bullet for the Prime Minister and other politicians and the same members who will be tasked with protecting AUKUS assets and infrastructure now and into the future.
“For the AFP to recruit the best and brightest, it needs to be competitive in the market. Today, every other police service can say it pays a better base wage to members starting their careers than the AFP does,” Mr Caruana said.
For comments: AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager – Mr Troy Roberts – media@afpa.org.au / 0409 812 690
