Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Watt. Officers of the Australian Federal Police are the lowest-paid officers in Australia. A constable in the Western Australia Police Force makes a minimum of $83,000 a year, while their equivalent in the AFP makes less than $70,000. A sergeant in Victoria's police force makes a minimum of $123,000, while their equivalent in the AFP makes under $103,000. Given the unique and critical role of AFP officers in national security—not to mention a national cost-of-living crisis—why has the government allowed pay for AFP officers to remain the lowest in Australia?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson. At the outset, I want to recognise on behalf of the government that we really deeply value the important work that AFP officers do every day to keep our community safe. Obviously they play a particular role around this parliament and, in some cases, with individual members of this parliament, but, more generally, they do extremely important work to keep our community safe.

As everyone is aware, there are negotiations going on at the moment in relation to a new enterprise bargaining agreement with the Australian Federal Police services. I do recognise the right of all employees to take responsible and legally appropriate protected action, where that's allowed for under the law, to the extent that those actions are safe and do not cause disruption or affect community safety and national security.

The reality is that, as in so many other parts of the workforce, some of the issues surrounding the wages and conditions that are experienced by AFP officers are a legacy of 10 years of coalition government. We have seen that to be the case across the public sector workforce. Unfortunately, the coalition's policy of keeping low wages in place applied to the AFP, as it did to various other employees of the federal government.

I'm confident that the Attorney-General, Minister Dreyfus, is handling this role appropriately, and I'm certainly very hopeful that we can achieve an agreement with the AFP officers as soon as possible. That would obviously be in everyone's interest. I note that the AFP is committed to ensuring operational continuity and community safety at all times, and we certainly have confidence in the AFP to approach these negotiations in that spirit, and, as I say, we are confident that, before too long, we will be able to get an agreement reached.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, in 2022-23, the attrition rate for the AFP was 6.3 per cent. This is extremely high for a police force. A survey by the AFP Association found that 92 per cent of officers don't have the necessary resources to cope with their workloads or the stresses of a job that sees them deal with matters like international paedophile syndicates. Training these officers in some specialist roles, like child protection, can take years and a significant taxpayer investment which is lost to us when an officer leaves the AFP. Will the government consider offering officers a pay— (Time expired)

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While I don't have the details in front of me, I'm sure that, already, a pay rise has been offered to AFP services as part of these negotiations. Of course, that hasn't been accepted—as is the case, often, during negotiations—and I recognise that the result of the vote for the proposed AFP enterprise agreement was announced on 3 June, with the majority of voting AFP members voting no to the AFP's enterprise agreement offer. It was obviously a matter for each AFP member to decide their own position on the offer, and I respect the decision of AFP officers in that vote. I'm sure that the AFP and the government will both continue productive negotiations with bargaining representatives and the involved unions. Certainly, from the government's point of view, we're very keen to conduct this bargaining in good faith, and I'm sure the AFP are as well.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sixty-eight per cent of officers told the survey they would leave the force unless a better offer was made. Now officers of the AFP are planning industrial action in Canberra to demand recognition that they are not desk-bound public servants able to enjoy flexible work-from-home provisions in exchange for a lower 11.2 per cent pay rise. They deserve a better deal. Your IR relations bill is 'same work, same pay'. Will you do the same for the AFP? (Time expired)

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You voted against the bill.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson. As Senator Green points out, I'm glad you recognise that the government passed laws that were referred to as 'same job, same pay'. My recollection is that you voted against those laws, Senator Hanson. So it's very interesting now that you're calling on us to follow a principle that you were not prepared to follow for any worker. Senator Hanson, you were not prepared to follow that principle for any worker, whether it be police officers in the AFP, coalminers in Central Queensland or any other worker who is experiencing that issue. Of course, Australian Federal Police officers have every right to negotiate and to take whatever action they wish to in line with those laws that we passed. But, as I say, we very much respect the work that AFP officers do each and every day. It is dangerous work. It is important work. That is why the government has put forward an offer, which has been rejected by AFP officers. But I'm confident that those negotiations will continue constructively.