National police recruitment and retention summit

On Thursday 26 November, to commemorate the National Police Recruitment and Retention Summit, WAPU President Paul Gale wrote an opinion piece in The West Australian regarding the strategies—or lack thereof—pertaining to the attraction and retention of Police Officers.

Undoubtedly, the current record-low unemployment rate has led to a common challenge across various industries and organisations in retaining and attracting employees. Nevertheless, there is a pressing need for the State Government and executives to transcend mere rhetoric and initiate substantial, actionable steps.

As we head into negotiations for the Police Officer Industrial Agreement 2024, we remain committed to advocating for the significance of both retention and attraction, aiming for substantial and impactful changes in the times to come.

We would like to thank Police Federation of Australia (PFA) and the Police Association of Victoria for organising the 2023 National Summit.

The summit commenced with Mr. Mark Dreyfus KC, Attorney General, who emphasised the vital role of law enforcement in our societal framework and underscored the need for its continued fortification.

This occasion witnessed the convergence of representatives from all policing jurisdictions alongside Union/Association delegates, pooling their collective expertise and efforts to craft innovative ideas and strategies on a national scale. Their primary focus was the enhancement and sustenance of high recruitment standards and the implementation of enticing measures to retain current police personnel.

Although Commissioners across Australia and New Zealand agreed to a range of proactive measures to promote policing as a long term career prospect, it is apparent to do so will incorporate more immediate strategies.

The PFA have engaged a lobbyist group to push forward in the federal arena:

• Lowering the preservation age of superannuation for police to 55 y/o

• Amending the fringe benefit tax to allow police to salary sacrifice their mortgages

• Establishing a Police Blue Card similar to the Defence White and Gold Cards

These are some positive outcomes that came out of the National Summit, and we will continue to work collaboratively with other Unions across the country. ■