A PROPOSAL by the police union for an alternative method of overhauling the Police Death and Disability Scheme is being considered by the state government in an attempt to break a deadlock over the issue.
The NSW Police Association strongly opposes changes contained in a bill due to be voted on in the NSW upper house this week which would cut compensation payouts to injured police to control the scheme's spiralling costs.
Total payments for police with injuries such as post traumatic stress disorder or depression would be cut from $569,292 to $76,786.
Advertisement: Story continues belowPayments to officers who suffer a physical injury would fall from $1,398,701 over five years under the existing scheme to $974,743.
However, it is unclear if the government has the numbers to pass the bill in the upper house. A rally outside Parliament will be held tomorrow in opposition to the changes. Several thousand off-duty police are expected to attend.
Last week the association lodged an application for a new death and disability award with the Industrial Relations Commission under which there would be no change to death and total and permanent disability entitlements.
Those suffering a partial permanent disability would be eligible for 80 per cent of their salary for seven years if injured on duty or two years if injured off duty.
The current system of maintaining the wages of injured police while they are on sick leave but still employed by the force would also be retained.
A spokesman for the government said the costs of the association's proposal were being calculated but the government would not withdraw its bill.
Police Death and Disability protection must remain. Front line emergency services deserve protection for risking lives on a daily basis.
Barry O'Farrell and the NSW Lib's need to get their grubby hands off NSW frontline services, and their conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment