Vic: Police action does not threaten public safety, says Bracks

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2001
Vic: Police action does not threaten public safety, says Bracks

MELBOURNE, Aug 14 AAP - Industrial action by Victoria Police, which had closed the
CBD station, was not threatening public safety, Premier Steve Bracks said today.

Three police stations were closed overnight as the first industrial action taken by
Victoria's police for 25 years moved into its second day.

"I'm advised by the police commissioner and police command that it's not affecting
the public's safety but it is inconveniencing, obviously, the police operations," Mr Bracks
told Radio 3AW.

"Police patrols are still covering areas around the state, so it's not affecting the
public's safety."

The St Kilda Road police station, which covers the central business district to East
Melbourne, was shut along with Rosebud, in Melbourne's south, and Boronia station in Melbourne's
outer east.

Union officials have demanded a wage increase of between 13 and 39 per cent to bring
Victorian police into line with NSW officers.

Police have instigated 22 work bans, including bans on one-man shifts, processing speed
and red-light camera film, transporting and dispensing medication to prisoners and communicating
via email.

Mr Bracks said if industrial action by police were to affect public safety, the government
would immediately seek the intervention of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

The government has increased its initial offer of a pay increase of nine per cent to
rises of 12 to 24 per cent.

Mr Bracks said the offer was final.

The Premier said he would not put a deadline today on how long the offer would remain
on the table.

"But if this (industrial action) goes on and the offer is not accepted, we'll pull
it off the table - it'll go back to nine per cent," he said.

AAP tsc/clr/ns/bwl

KEYWORD: POLICE VIC BRACKS

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