NSW Police Receive “Generational” 39% Pay Rise; Nurses Remain Stuck with Proposed 15% Rise

Since NSW Premier Chris Minns announced a historic pay rise proposition of up to 39% for NSW police officers on November 12, an official agreement has been reached regarding the exact amount of pay increase. 

The salary of a probationary constable will rise from $81,517 to $84,777 before increasing to $97,206 by 2027.

The salary of a senior constable will jump from $101,516 to $105,577 and then increase even further to $121,054 in 2027 – a 13.5 per cent pay rise over four years.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley announced the pay rise on Tuesday morning alongside NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Association NSW (PANSW) President Kevin Morton. 

NSW Commissioner Karen Webb said in a statement this morning that, “this historic deal will revolutionise the working conditions of our police, making them among the highest paid in the country. The pay rise will be back dated to July this year with officers seeing the benefits shortly after Christmas.”

New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley said this will be a real generational change for the force.

Controversial Choices

Yet on Wednesday, November 12, staff with the NSW Nurses & Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) went on strike for 24 hours from 6:30 am that day, with rallies being held from Lismore to Moruya and right outside of Sydney’s Parliament House.

The NSWNMA went on strike due to the government’s proposed 15% pay rise, as the nurses were “beyond frustrated” with not receiving appropriate compensation for the immeasurable and consequential work that they do.

As a result of the strike, nurses were offered a 15 per cent pay increase delivered over a period of multiple years. 

However, this deal was rejected by the NSWNMA on the grounds that other states have higher rates of pay, that teachers, paramedics, and now police were getting a much more significant raise, and that the 15 per cent increase is required immediately to help the essential workers battle the cost of living crisis.

“We are dealing with 10 years of neglect for public health in NSW, the Nurses Association would like us to turn that around in 12 months, we’re going to need a little bit longer,” Mr Minns said, reported ABC News Australia. 

“We are so beyond frustrated, really our members are so angry that they continue to be undervalued and disrespected by this government,” said NSWNMA general secretary Shaye Candish.