In a historic agreement that has sent shockwaves through Australia’s public sector, the NSW Police Force has secured jaw-dropping pay rises of up to 40% – the most substantial wage increase the state’s law enforcement has witnessed in over three decades. The landmark deal, reached amid escalating pay disputes between the NSW government and other essential worker unions, is set to position the state’s police officers as the highest-paid in the nation.
A Generational Shift for NSW Police
Under the groundbreaking four-year agreement, more than 10,000 constables, senior constables, and sergeants will see their base salaries skyrocket by a minimum of 25% before factoring in shift allowances. The streamlined pay scales will result in a senior constable’s annual wage soaring from $107,600 to an impressive $146,600 by mid-2027. Speaking to members, Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton hailed the outcome as a “generational change” that will yield the most significant pay increases achieved for NSW police in the past 30 years.
We set the bar high and for good reason. This offer will see the highest pay increases achieved in the last 30 years for NSW Police, outstripping what we have seen accepted by other public-sector agencies.
Kevin Morton, Police Association of NSW president
The deal also introduces a $5,400 leadership retention payment for senior officers and allowances for training first-year recruits. Commissioned officers, including inspectors and superintendents, will enjoy pay rises between 20% and 27%, inclusive of the retention bonus. Police minister Yasmin Catley expressed pride in reaching an agreement that acknowledges the challenging and hazardous work police undertake daily to ensure public safety.
Addressing Officer Shortages and Fatigue
The breakthrough in negotiations comes as NSW, home to Australia’s largest police force, grapples with a crippling officer shortage. The state has been operating several thousand positions below full strength, forcing officers to work on their rest days to maintain adequate staffing levels, particularly during ongoing protests. The union had previously voiced concerns about the risk of officer burnout due to these extended shifts and the force’s understaffing by approximately 2,500 officers.
Pressure Mounts on Minns Government
While the police pay deal represents a significant victory for the Minns Labor government, it remains embroiled in contentious wage negotiations with multiple public-sector unions representing frontline workers. Nurses, in particular, have threatened to defy an industrial court order and proceed with a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, demanding their own “generational change” to pay scales. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) insists it has been left with no alternative after the government refused to budge on its offer.
They have been holding on for an outcome on better pay, juggling challenging working conditions, trying to manage their bills in a cost-of-living crisis and now they feel terribly let down.
Shaye Candish, NSWNMA general secretary
Premier Chris Minns expressed deep regret for any patients whose surgeries may be postponed due to the impending nurses’ strike. Meanwhile, Sydney Trains staff are also threatening industrial action, and the city’s trams will operate fare-free until Thursday as a peace offering from the government to stave off go-slows amid drivers’ dispute with contractor Transdev.
Opposition Criticism and Minns’ Response
The opposition Coalition, which had enforced a wages cap during its tenure, accused the Labor government of failing to stand firm against unions, resulting in “industrial chaos” across NSW. Opposition leader Mark Speakman argued that the government’s purported unwillingness to resist union demands was fueling the unrest.
In response, Premier Minns dismissed suggestions that the state’s newly-established industrial court and bargaining framework was ineffective. He maintained that his administration has been gradually securing what it considers fair increases in salaries and conditions for public-sector employees. Minns expressed optimism about announcing further progress in the near future as the government works to navigate the complex wage disputes that have dominated its early tenure.
Bit by bit, week by week, we’ve been landing what we regard as fair increases in salaries and conditions across the public sector. I’m hopeful to announce more soon.
Premier Chris Minns
As the NSW government strives to strike a balance between rewarding its essential workers and managing public finances, all eyes will be on the upcoming negotiations with nurses, transport workers, and other unions. The police pay deal has set a high bar and raised expectations among public-sector employees who have long felt undervalued and overworked. The Minns administration faces a daunting task in navigating these competing demands while striving to maintain industrial harmony and deliver on its commitments to the people of NSW.
