Australian money lures Kiwi cops, warns police association

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - The New Zealand Police Association on Tuesday warned that hundreds of police officers could be leaving for Australia, lured by higher salaries.

It offers the prospect of warmer weather and higher pay, including an AU$20,000 (approximately $13,033) bonus, state-run Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported, citing association President Chris Cahill.

"The (Australian) $20,000 relocation allowance is pretty good, but you're talking about a 30 percent pay increase pretty much straight away and that's before you factor in things like paid overtime which we don't have in New Zealand Police," Cahill said, as quoted by the RNZ.

The Queensland Police Service in Australia has initiated a campaign to recruit New Zealand officers, the media outlet said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the retention of police officers is presently at a comparable level to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Cahill, on the other hand, stressed that Australia's campaign to New Zealand police is an "attractive offer" that would be a "real risk."

"I think we could look at (losing) hundreds (of police officers), possibly,” he added.

Cahill said when a young officer becomes a part of the New Zealand Police force today it takes 21 years to reach the highest point of his salary range. In comparison, this timeline is approximately seven years for nurses and approximately nine years for teachers.

According to the president, the risk level has risen in recent years, and with this lucrative officer, New Zealand police officers may prefer Australia.