Tasmanian police officers have voted to accept a three-year wage deal, ending months of tense negotiations with the state government.
The Police Association of Tasmania confirmed on Wednesday that a “small majority” of members backed the government’s third offer, with about 600 voting against it.
The agreement includes pay rises of 3% in years one and two, followed by a 2.75% increase in year three.
It also lifts the 24-hour station allowance to 28%, up from 24%, along with changes to other conditions and allowances.
PAT president Shane Tilley said the deal contained an important safeguard for members.
“Every police officer in this state will receive baseline wage increases, with a guarantee from government that they will receive an uplift if any other state service employee receives more,” he said.
“This guarantee provides some level of comfort to our members and may have been the catalyst for a more positive response throughout the survey process.”
The result marks a turnaround from October, when nearly 1,000 officers overwhelmingly rejected an earlier offer.
At the time, Tilley called the government’s proposal “disrespectful” and warned that a growing pay gap with interstate colleagues was threatening community safety.
He acknowledged the final deal would not satisfy everyone.
“No single offer will meet the expectations of every member,” he said.
“However, the PAT has worked diligently to secure the best possible outcome for the membership, given the current political and financial position the state finds itself in.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff welcomed the agreement.
“We wanted to see our public servants receive a pay rise before Christmas and we are pleased our police, firefighters and education facility attendants have achieved this,” he said.
The deal will be funded by reallocating money originally set aside for 50 new police positions, a move the government says supports a “retention-focused strategy”.
The union has previously raised concerns about workforce pressures, with around 16% of officers currently on workers’ compensation and about 100 leaving the force each year.
Alongside the police agreement, firefighters have secured a one-year rollover deal with a 3% pay rise while longer-term negotiations continue.
