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WHILE police officers enjoy the full benefits of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme (ESSS) our members at the Protective Services Unit are still fighting for equal consideration as emergency service workers.
Our Protective Service Officer members provide specialist security services that assist police members. Members of the unit undergo training provided at the police academy that in many respects is the same as that provided to police officers. They requalify in all aspects of Operational Safety Training along-side police officers, in recognition of the dangers they face in their role.
Empowered with specific arrest powers under the Shrine of Remembrance and Crown Lands Acts, in addition to the legislated "citizens arrest" authority (Section 458 Crimes Act), our PSO members deal with diverse members of the community. Like police officers, they do not choose the terms on which incidents will be presented to them and PSOs may be the first to respond to emergencies at and around their designated workplaces.
Post September Eleven security changes serve as a timely reminder of the important work that our PSO members undertake in securing police, government and court premises. Their interaction with the general community and those that pose potential risks to premises or the judicial process at courts is significant. It is therefore ironic that PSOs are not considered emergency service workers for full superannuation entitlements.
The Police Association has lobbied Government for years to recognise the work that our PSO members perform by providing them with superannuation entitlements equal to those of police. Entitlements that allow career Emergency Service workers to retire with dignity through the defined benefit scheme and to access important ESSS features, including the death benefit. In short, the Association calls on Government to afford ‘Equal Respect and Equal Superannuation for PSOs’.
Through negotiations with the Police Association, Government has finally agreed to review its position on this issue through the agency of an inter-departmental committee comprising Government officials. This committee considered submissions from The Police Association and visited PSOs at work and in training to gain an appreciation for the important work that they do.
The committee completed its review in June 2006 but the Police Association is yet to be advised of its findings. Your Association has written the Minister for Finance, John Lenders seeking an urgent decision and will continue to support its members until this issue is finally resolved.
Ironically, Government officials have for years had their needs at work catered for by PSOs securing and responding to incidents at their workplaces, but today their needs at work are still ignored. It would appear PSOs are emergency workers when it suits Government.
We call on all members to support their PSO colleagues in this campaign, to be mindful of the importance of this issue and to promote equal respect and equal superannuation entitlements for all Police Association members.
