Premier Mark McGowan has lashed the state police union's leadership after a short-lived escalation of industrial action over a pay dispute, saying they went rogue and took the law into their own hands.
Premier Mark McGowan has lashed the state police union's leadership after a short-lived escalation of industrial action over a pay dispute, saying they went rogue and took the law into their own hands.
Mr McGowan says the state government's capped $1,000 pay increase for all public sector workers is fair and should be accepted, given WA's dire state finances, but the police union has been demanding it stick to the previous government's 1.5 per cent wage deal.
The WA Police Union told members late yesterday to only leave stations or sections to attend priority one or two incidents then return straight to their posts.
That meant police would only respond to emergencies and not attend priority three incidents such as burglaries where the offender is no longer on the premises.
But newly appointed Police Commissioner Chris Dawson swiftly issued a directive ordering all officers to perform normal duties, saying the proposed action had the potential to affect community safety.
The union then sent out an urgent missive telling members to comply with Mr Dawson's order, but instructed them to continue other action including only signing on for duty at rostered start times and using discretion to issue cautions instead of fines for traffic and liquor offences.
Mr McGowan was scathing of the union's leadership, claiming the three-hour-long action, the third phase of a campaign that began in June, was "irresponsible, unnecessary and reckless".
"Through its actions, the police union's leadership potentially compromised public safety and provided a green light to drunk drivers, drug dealers and criminals," the Labor leader told reporters.
"Put simply, the union leadership took the law into their own hands and it stands condemned."
Mr McGowan said the dispute had been sent back to WA's Industrial Relations Commission and he hoped common sense would prevail.
"Everything can be resolved today if the police union acts responsibly and accepts our fair and reasonable offer," he said.
Mr Dawson is expected to address the media when he returns to WA from Sydney later today.
