As skid cars bound for SpringNats rolled into town on the back of trailers ahead of one of the police’s busiest weekends, Shepparton members went on strike.

While Friday’s stop work date wasn’t handpicked for maximum impact, it only highlighted further the message The Police Association Victoria has been pushing to the Victorian Government for the past 18 months.

It wants a 24 per cent pay rise over the next four years — six per cent per annum — and an end to unpaid work before and after rostered shifts.

At 11am on Friday, November 22, police put down their pens, hung up their phones and marched out to the footpath at the front of Shepparton Police Station, brandishing a banner claiming they were at ‘Breaking Point’.

It read: 1000+ vacancies, 700+ sick, resignations up, recruits down.

Acting Inspector Dean Williams, who has spent 34 years in the force after graduating in 1990 — around 20 of those back in his home town of Shepparton — said Friday’s strike was the first time Shepparton police had ever stopped work for industrial action.

He said because working conditions weren’t enticing new recruits into policing careers, police were under increased pressure to make up the shortfall in shifts when members were off ill or injured.

“We sign up for good pay, good conditions,” he said.

“But members have moved off to Queensland to take up incentives that Queensland Police have offered.”

He said many younger recruits had quickly moved on to different careers when the conditions in the force hadn’t lived up to their expectations.

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and state Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe addressed the protesting police and declared their support for their plight.

“You should not have had to fight for an EBA (enterprise bargaining agreement) for 18 months,” Ms Lovell said.

“It shows the government has no respect for the work you’re doing.”

She said she hoped the industrial action would encourage the government back to the table for discussions.

Ms O’Keeffe expressed her disappointment in police wages not increasing to match the escalation of their duties.

“It’s appalling to have to come out here and stand on footpaths for the rights of the police,” she said.

TPAV secretary Wayne Gatt said the association did not want Victoria Police to wash its hands of its members’ futures.

“We want it to return to the negotiating table and have some involvement in looking after its workforce,” he said.

“With over 1000 vacancies, 800-plus members off sick and more police leaving than entering the building that will host today’s walkout (Shepparton station), Victoria Police needs to take ownership here and correct the ship that is currently sailing off course.

“Don’t complain about your lack of resources and close 43 stations down to rationalise your troops and then throw your hands up and say, ‘This is a problem for someone else to fix’.”

The strike lasted around 30 minutes, in which time Shepparton police still served the public.

“We want to make sure the public is safe,” Acting Inspector Williams said.

“Our beef is not with the public.”

The current EBA expired in November, 2023.

Further stoppages will take place at other Victorian police stations over the coming weeks.

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Thursday, 21st December 2023

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