Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (Senator Watt) to a question without notice I asked today relating to Australian Federal Police remuneration and conditions.

I raised the question today about the AFP and their lack of pay. They're supposed to be in negotiations at the moment, but let me just inform the house how bad it is. I have a statement, and it says: 'Where I work we have had a 300 per cent increase in workload and are now at 25 per cent staffing. There is a cascading effect of increased demand on police services. There are more jobs than police on the ground, with members diverted to cover shortages at other stations, locations or teams to deal with other priorities and jobs, such as the Pacific Games and detainee issues. It results in a significant reduction in the members available to fill squads. Due to underresourcing and the ever-increasing workload, pressure and demand, burnout is a real barrier. The lack of flexibility is another major barrier. It has been very difficult to attract and keep new staff. In the space of 12 months I trained five new staff members, four of whom all left within four months of starting.'

The fact is they could accept the 11.2 per cent pay rise that's been offered, but they say, 'Do you realise that accepting the federal government's offer of 11.2 per cent over three years means that no additional allowances, such as the use-of-force allowance, can be obtained?'

It's systemic in there, and they're also saying: 'The AFP has a toxic workforce, and a royal commission needs to be appointed to investigate corrupt management. In all my working career, the AFP would have to be the most horrible place I have worked. Maybe some effort from the AFPA needs to be made in actually investigating the harassment and bullying that happens within the AFP—also the way victims are treated after an injury occurs. This needs to be looked at.'

It's not just about a pay rise. It's about training people and keeping them. It starts with a pay rise that they're entitled to. They're underpaid compared to their counterparts in the states, so it needs to be looked at, and we need to investigate and have a royal commission, which is what they're asking for.

Question agreed to.