Angry Blue Line

By Kate Ramien  |  November 24, 2011

Gunnedah police officers will take further industrial action if the State Government refuses to back down on reforms to their death and disability scheme.

Around 5000 uniformed police, including four Gunnedah officers, marched on Parliament House on Tuesday to protest against the government changes, which would restrict payouts and put more emphasis on rehabilitation.

The Gunnedah branch of the NSW Police Association, which includes all of the station’s officers, fear they could face financial ruin under the changes.

“Not only will it force injured police officers back to work – it will cripple them financially,” NSW Police Association Gunnedah branch spokesperson, Senior Constable Grant Dowse said.

“We’re not going to put up with it.”

Injured Curlewis-based police officer, Senior Constable Simon Shannon told his story to the crowd of thousands on Tuesday, describing how he was hit by a stolen car while on duty at Carroll last year, breaking his leg in two places.

Mr Shannon, who is off work and has a toddler and baby on the way, says he is facing wage cuts of 65 per cent under the new scheme.

“If his wage goes down, they won’t be able to survive as a family,” Senior Constable Dowse said.

Officers at the rally voted in support of tougher industrial action, where they would only respond to urgent or life-threatening situations if the government doesn’t back down.

This could begin as early as next week, when all Gunnedah officers say they will cast their formal vote for further action.

It includes highway patrol, general duties police, detectives and the duty officer.

“If anyone has a job and they ring us, they’re not going to get a response, unless it is urgent,” Senior Constable Dowse said.

“The community needs to be assured they will be protected, but we have to do this. We don’t want to get the community off side.

“We’ll do it for as long as it takes.”

Senior Constable Dowse said police need a good death and disability scheme, and fears that numbers will drop because police won’t put their lives on the line for fear of being injured.

“The State Protection Unit and Operation Support Group, which deals with the Tamworth Country Music Festival – they won’t want to put their lives on the line and not be compensated.”

NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher was yesterday standing firm on the proposed changes.

“We’re not taking it off (the table),” he told ABC radio.

“You know why we’re not taking it off? Because we have one opportunity here to actually move towards a self insurance scheme.”

Mr Gallacher said talks with the NSW Police Association are progressing and he hopes to resolve the issue this week, before parliament retires for the summer break.

“I will keep talking to them but at the end of the day this scheme is budgeted for $2.5 million a week. It’s now costing $15 million a week and that money’s coming from
somewhere,” Mr Gallacher said.