As we reported in newsletter 39/05, a meeting on Tuesday of over a hundred members unanimously endorsed a series of resolutions supporting the Police Association’s strident opposition to draconian changes to the Police Regulation Act being proposed by the Chief Commissioner and the Government.

Yesterday afternoon a further 200 members, inclusive of commissioned officers, attended stop work meetings held simultaneously at the VPC involving FRU and Transit members, Bendigo and Ballarat on the proposed changes.

Once again the response from members at these meetings was overwhelming, all unanimously expressing outrage over the changes being proposed to undermine their rights and entitlements.

Members at these meetings unanimously carried the following resolutions;

"THIS MEETING NOTES WITH OUTRAGE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED BY THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNMENT TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT THAT WILL SEVERELY ERODE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF POLICE OFFICERS."

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE PROGRESS OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT THAT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT ON POLICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES".

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO UNDERTAKE ALL POSSIBLE ACTION TO RESIST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT, INCLUDING THE SCHEDULING OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES".

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO PURSUE WITH GOVERNMENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE CAREER SERVICES COMMISSION AND TO IMPROVE THE SAFEGUARDS CONTAINED IN SECTION 123 OF THE POLICE REGULATION ACT TO INDEMNIFY POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS STATE AGAINST ANY FORM OF CIVIL ACTION".

"THAT THIS MEETING UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSES THE TAKING OF UNPROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION IF THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESLOVED TO THE SATIFACTION OF OUR MEMBERS."

"THAT THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO DRAFT A MEMBERS’ CHARTER OF RIGHTS IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN IMMEDIATELY STOPPING THESE PROPOSED CHANGES FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED."

The Association will be staging similar urgent meetings of members next week on this crucial issue. Members can rest assured that the Association will carry out these resolutions at the earliest opportunity.

Paul Mullett

Secretary