Former-Kiwi cop says jumping the ditch to Aussie ‘best decision’ he ever made
Thursday, 14 March 2024
With police pay negotiations reaching heightened tensions, the union has said phone lines to Australia are now “red hot”.
But what does this mean, how did we get here - and is the grass really greener on the other side of the Tasman? Stuff spoke to two former Kiwi police officers who certainly think so.
What’s going on?
The Government and Police Association have been negotiating a new collective agreement for almost a year, but talks reached a stalemate on Friday when cops were fronted with an offer they have since dubbed “insulting”.
President of the association, Chris Cahill, said that amongst threats of officers implementing a ‘work to rule’ policy and protesting at Parliament, the latest offer had renewed conversations about the brain drain to Australia reaching the thin blue line.
“Officers are queuing up to go to Australia […] The phone lines are red hot,” Cahill said on Tuesday.
Where does Australia come into it?
In short, police officers can earn a lot more money in Australia.
The Northern Territory police force, for example, is offering cops the opportunity to earn “more than” NZ$148,127 in their first year– at least double what they could expect to earn in Aotearoa in the same time frame.
Since December, 35 serving officers from Aotearoa have applied to join the Northern Territory, a spokesperson said.
Queensland police launched a similar campaign that would see officers paid a NZ$21,555 relocation bonus.
Have you been tempted by a move across the ditch? Let us know in the comments.
Is the grass really greener on the other side of the Tasman?
A former detective from the Bay of Plenty region - who Stuff has given the name James to protect previous covert work - saw the writing on the wall back in 2015 when he moved to Queensland.
“I had a young family, and could see that there would be a lot more opportunity for us there,” James said.
Within 15 months, James said he was earning “significantly” more money.
So was it worth it? “Definitely, in my eyes,” James said.
“I wish all my brothers and sisters in blue luck. You don’t join the policing to become rich, but you should be able to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head.”
Jason Thackeray, 53, moved from policing in Aotearoa’s Wairoa to Australia’s Northern Territory eight years ago and says he hasn’t looked back since – not least because his wages have tripled.
Thackeray had done 11 years in policing and – alongside his wife and then 7-year-old daughter – was “looking for a change”.
The New Zealand Police had just gone through a three-year pay freeze at the time.
“At the end of the day, policing is policing, and it’s going to be hard no matter where you work, but you really get a sense the Northern Territory police force are trying to make it easier for you.”
Thackeray said he was given $5000 upfront to help with the move to Australia, and while he’s worked in seven postings in the time he has been in Australia, it hasn’t cost him “a bean”.
“You get free housing for the whole of your career too – in 2019, we built a brand-new house, and now we’re being given $30,000 a year to put towards the mortgage.”
Thackeray said jumping the ditch “was the best decision my family and I ever made.”
What’s the Government saying?
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was important police had the tools to do their job.
He said the Government was negotiating with police in good faith and that Police Minister Mark Mitchell was “very focused” on it.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell previously told Stuff the Government was dealing with 'a tough economic environment“.
He said he couldn’t comment further while negotiations were ongoing.
What’s next?
The Police Association is due to meet with the Government on Thursday to discuss their rejection of the offer, according to Cahill.