Rent rise for regions riles police union

Hitting regional police officers with an additional $1560 a year for rental prices showed the State Government was not looking after police, according to a senior WA Police Union member.

Union vice president Harry Arnott said regional officers had been hit with a $4500 rental increase over three years.

“The McGowan Government appear to have turned their back on regional Western Australia,” he said.

Mr Arnott said Government employee salary increases had only been $1000 a year.

“What that effectively means is police officers in WA are $500 worse off every year,” he said.

“The challenge we’re going to face as a union and as WA police, is how do you attract people to the regions when you’re paying rent that’s on par with local rent?

“If you’ve got a house or a dwelling in Perth, you’re going to be paying less than you would be paying in the regions.”

Mr Arnott said there was no incentive for officers toleave their life and friends when their rent would be higher.

“For some of us, that is a natural call, we go regional and we stay there, but not everyone is built that way,” he said.

Mr Arnott also said police officers did not get paid to be on call.

“They do it because they committed to their communities and care about their communities,” he said.

“The WA police men and women that work in regional WA are committed to their community.”

WA Police Union wants to meet with Premier Mark McGowan.