The Andrews Labor Government has reached a landmark agreement that rewards police officers and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) for their work while delivering value for money for taxpayers.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville today announced police and PSOs will receive annual pay increases, increased penalty rates and parental leave, under a new in-principle enterprise agreement.

The agreement complies with the Labor Government’s wages policy and delivers significant productivity enhancements within Victoria Police that will reduce costs.

The agreement creates a more flexible and agile police service, driven by new technology and intelligence, allowing an additional 90,000 frontline shifts over the next four years. It also establishes minimum service standards to ensure greater police presence in the community.

The agreement, which complies with the Government’s wages policy, delivers:

• An annual salary increase of 2 per cent
• Substantial productivity reforms to modernise the force and increase the ability of police to be where they’re needed, when they’re needed
• Increased penalty rates for working weeknights between 6pm and 7am and other changes that strengthen police capability
• An extra two weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers, taking the total paid leave to 16 weeks.

The Government has also delivered on its election commitments by providing for a phased in salary up-lift for sergeants and senior sergeants in recognition of their additional management responsibilities.

The agreement delivers a more structured career pathway for PSOs through the provision of additional opportunities for promotion as Victoria Police continues to expand PSO deployment across the public transport network.

The agreement will now go to police members for a vote and, if endorsed, will then go to the Fair Work Commission for formal approval.