Queensland Police Union doubles down on 'historic' pay deal despite online backlash

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

The head of Queensland's police union has doubled down on his support for a "historic" pay offer for the service, despite the backlash he's received from some members.
Queensland Police Union (QPU) president Shane Prior has, however, conceded he should have been more up-front with members with the details of the deal earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Mr Prior stood alongside Premier David Crisafulli as the pair announced both sides had reached in-principle agreement on a new pay offer following wage negotiations.
That offer included a minimum pay rise of 3 per cent from July 1 this year, followed by a 2.5 per cent hike in July next year, and a 2.5 per cent rise in July 2027.
It also included an $8,000 retention bonus to be paid to general duty officers, including constables, senior constables, sergeants, and senior sergeants.
Mr Prior has described the offer, which he said was worth $540 million, as the "largest ever" secured for the Queensland Police Service.
He said that was $163 million more than the government's "insulting" initial offer, thanks to extra incentives including boosts to shift allowances he and his negotiating team had secured.
Since the announcement earlier this week, Mr Prior has been subjected to online criticism.
He's characterised some of that backlash as "really hurtful" to him and his family.
"I have every faith that once officers see what this agreement is going to deliver for [them] ... I absolutely think that most of our officers will turn around and see that this is a very reasonable deal," he said.
While doubling down on the merits of the offer, Mr Prior did apologise to union members for not having immediately provided them with "the appropriate information" about the pay offer until an email sent on Wednesday night.
"We're looking to remedy that straight away."
Mr Prior has said his next task is to travel around the state and speak to "every single member possible to explain the benefits of the deal".
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Prior said the negotiating team had been forced to pivot to securing incentives once it became aware the state government was not going to budge from the 3 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent pay boost per year.
He has always been highly critical of that wages offer, which he has called "insulting" to police and all other frontline workers.
Mr Prior said the in-principle deal had the unanimous support of the QPU executive, including the endorsement of all regional representatives.
If the deal is voted down by union members in September, bargaining may be taken to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for arbitration.
Mr Prior said the union was a democracy and members would have the ultimate say.
The state government wage negotiations with both the state's nurses and the state's teachers have been ordered before the IRC.
Next week, teachers will strike at state schools for the first time in 16 years, while the nurses' union criticised what they described as a "swift" pay deal for the police.