A WA parliamentary question probes the Commerce Minister about the rejected police wage offer and its implications, particularly regarding detectives' pay and the upcoming CHOGM meeting. The Minister's response deflects criticism and affirms ongoing negotiations and inter-ministerial consultation.

AnsweredQoN 736Legislative Council
Asked
7 September 2011
Portfolio
Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE — WAGE OFFER
I refer to the outcome of the vote of Western Australian Police Union members, which rejected the government’s wage offer. (1) Is this vote not further evidence that the government’s approach of undervaluing the work of detectives is untenable? (2) What is the current timetable for continuing negotiations? (3) What action does the minister personally intend to take? (4) Will the minister consult with the Minister for Police; and, if not, why not? (5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(1) Is this vote not further evidence that the government’s approach of undervaluing the work of detectives is untenable? (2) What is the current timetable for continuing negotiations? (3) What action does the minister personally intend to take? (4) Will the minister consult with the Minister for Police; and, if not, why not? (5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(2) What is the current timetable for continuing negotiations? (3) What action does the minister personally intend to take? (4) Will the minister consult with the Minister for Police; and, if not, why not? (5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(3) What action does the minister personally intend to take? (4) Will the minister consult with the Minister for Police; and, if not, why not? (5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(4) Will the minister consult with the Minister for Police; and, if not, why not? (5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(5) Is the minister confident that the negotiations can be settled before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of his question. He is fresh from his extraordinarily successful question yesterday about the State School Teachers’ Union and its failure to progress the teachers’ pay claims! (1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(1) No. The government’s offer was based on the Police Union’s counterproposal and endorsed by the union’s board of management. (2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.
(2)–(5) The government’s intention is to reach a negotiated outcome as soon as possible. I will continue to consult with the Minister for Police and encourage all parties to achieve a speedy resolution to the negotiations.

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