31 March 2025
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) is calling for the Minister for Public Employment Jo Hersey to immediately relinquish responsibility for the 2025 Police Consent Agreement negotiations and hand them over to Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
This demand follows Minister Hersey’s complete lack of interest in the negotiations, highlighted in Question Time last Thursday, and with negotiations now reaching a complete standstill. The NTPA is frustrated by the Minister’s inaction and lack of interest in resolving the critical issues affecting police officers across the Territory.
NTPA President Nathan Finn continues to condemn the Government’s approach, warning that the current 3% wage policy is severely damaging the Police Force’s ability to recruit and retain officers.
“The NTPA has repeatedly sounded the alarm that the Government’s inadequate 3% wage policy will have devastating consequences for policing in the Northern Territory.
“It is abundantly clear those warnings are falling on deaf ears. Minister Hersey has failed to even provide a basic update to Parliament on the status of these crucial negotiations.
“The 2025 Police Consent Agreement should be at the forefront of the Minister for Public Employment’s agenda. Instead, it is obvious she has zero interest in the recruitment and retention of Northern Territory Police Officers.
“We are calling on the Chief Minister, who is also the Police Minister, to take control of these negotiations alongside the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) and finally show our police that their Government values them.”
President Finn said the Government’s approach to policing and workforce retention has been completely short-sighted.
“Right now, police feel like they are being held to ransom – accept an insulting 3% pay rise by 30 April, or receive no backpay at all. This is disgraceful.”
“The Government is sending a loud and clear message that they do not care about police officers and that they think they are just another public servant. They are unwilling to put forward a fair and competitive wages package that acknowledges the higher demands and safety risks faced by police.”
The NTPA is urging the Government to take these negotiations seriously, immediately revise their inadequate 3% wage policy, and bring a strong and competitive wages package to the table that ensures the ongoing recruitment and retention of the men and women who serve and protect the Northern Territory.
To watch OCPE Minister Jo Hersey Question time response, click here.
DEDICATED TO SERVE, COMMITTED TO RETAIN
