Changes to tax and superannuation for police floated as solutions to looming retention crisis

Tax and superannuation incentives should be looked at to improve police retention numbers according to WA’s Police Minister as the sector struggles to keep its experienced officers on the force.

Minister Reece Whitby raised the idea at Thursday’s Police Ministers Council attended by top officials from each jurisdiction in Australia along with the Federal Minister for Home Affairs and the New Zealand Police Minister.

While there were no specific tax or super changes proposed, Mr Whitby said he hoped changes to Federal policy could help incentivise more people to stay in the force.

“Police forces across Australia and around the world are grappling with the issue of police retention,” he said.

“While the challenge is greater in other jurisdictions, it’s important to ensure we encourage reward police who commit to a career dedicated to keeping our community safe.

“WA is keen to lead a submission to develop a range of retention strategies at the next National Police Council.

“We will look at how Federal policy in tax and superannuation arrangements specific for police, can help and we will draw on international experience on this area where other countries have looked at this issue.”

WA Police staff numbers rose over the 2024-25 financial year but fell short of budget targets by nearly 300.

According to a communiqué released after the meeting, the council agreed to “further consider a national retention and recruitment framework”.

The alarm was raised over staff numbers in August by WA Police Union president Dave Flaherty.

“We’ve raised this for some time, I’ve raised this with the Commissioner for some time, he’s never denied it’s coming, I think he knows it’s coming, it’s of concern to him I would hope,” he said.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he was focused on the issue of retention but the risk was there.

“What I can say is if we don’t focus on retention and recruitment like we are today and like we have been now for a couple of years then that is a risk for all of us, for all of us across the country,” he said.