Vic: Public safety at risk from police dispute says opp'n

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Vic: Public safety at risk from police dispute says opp'n

Victorian Opposition Leader DENIS NAPTHINE says public safety is at risk from the state
government's failure to negotiate an end to the police pay dispute.

Dr NAPTHINE says the closure of 26 police stations at the weekend shows how serious
the situation has become and the government should not allow the dispute to escalate.

He says it's becoming increasingly clear that public safety is genuinely at risk because
the Labor government can't solve the dispute with the police.

Dr NAPTHINE says police deserve a better deal and is calling on Premier STEVE BRACKS
to negotiate a settlement personally.

His comments come as police threaten to step up their industrial campaign by banning
mobile patrols.





The Police Association is demanding a wage increase of between 13 and 39 per cent to
give Victorian police pay parity with New South Wales officers.

The government has increased its offer of 11 per cent over three years to between 12
and 24 per cent.

But the union says the offer falls far short of what police deserve.

AAP RTV bp/clr/jas/jn

KEYWORD: POLICE NAPTHINE (MELBOURNE)

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