July 1999 Volume 80 Number 7 "serving the protectors"
President's Message

POLICE REGULATIONS

The Police Association was heavily involved in lobbying all members of Parliament when the new Police Act was introduced into the House of Assembly last year. Later - with the support of the Opposition, Democrats and Independents in the Legislative Council - significant amendments were made to the legislation, which prevented police conditions from being eroded.

The new act will be proclaimed after the introduction of the Police Regulations 1999 into Parliament.

The regulations that the Government intends to present to Parliament contain further attempts to undermine police employment. For example, the Police Association asked that proposed Regulation 9 “be amended to include a provision requiring external appointees to be appointed with the conditions of the Police Officers Award and the Enterprise Agreement in force at the time of appointment as the minimum standards for employment.” The Police Minister replied:

Regulation 9 expressly provides that appointments may only be made under section 23(2)(b) of the Police Act 1998 where an advisory committee has determined there are no suitable applicants within SAPOL. It is therefore necessary to have the flexibility to pay market rates where appropriate to ensure persons with the necessary skills can be attracted to the position.

This would deliver two classes of police employment and goes against what the Parliament determined regarding external appointment when debating the Police Act. If the skills envisaged by the Minister cannot be found within SAPOL, why employ sworn members on separate salary rates?

In these circumstances, there is no need to employ sworn police. The capacity to employ unsworn persons with specific skills already exists. This is another attempt to change police employment and remuneration by stealth after failing to achieve such change in the Police Act debate.

There is a number of other significant issues in the proposed regulations which are not in the best interests of members or the community. The Police Association will lobby all members of Parliament to ensure the best possible result. Members will be advised of the implications of the proposed regulations through newsletters and branch meetings in the near future.

Peter Alexander    President  

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