Unionised Australian Federal Police officers are threatening to abandon their security posts at parliament house, in a push for a 20% pay bump.
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00:00So, a really concerning development here regarding the security and safety of parliamentarians
00:07and everyone who works here in Parliament House.
00:10The AFPA, so that's the union that represents the Australian Federal Police, is locked in
00:16a pay dispute with the AFP and the federal government.
00:20The union says that the AFP are the lowest paid police force in Australia.
00:25They're pushing for a 20% pay increase over a period of three years.
00:31Obviously the AFP plays a key role here at Parliament House, patrolling the perimeter
00:37of the building.
00:38When we saw protesters come onto the roof of Parliament House in recent weeks, the AFP
00:44played a key role in bringing that situation back under control.
00:49But the AFP officers, the unionised officers, are willing to abandon their posts here at
00:57Parliament House.
00:58Alex Caruana, the AFPA president, spoke to News Breakfast a little earlier about why
01:06they've chosen this time to propose this industrial action.
01:11We intend to take action during the sitting week.
01:14Obviously we've got to iron out the finer details with the AFP in terms of the notice
01:17period.
01:18But we will be withdrawing our labour from some key Commonwealth assets, for instance
01:22Parliament House and the airports.
01:25But I want to stress that this is something that we aren't taking lightly and it is something
01:28that we see as a last resort.
01:30We think that the government can intervene here and they can step up and they can say
01:34to us and to the AFP membership that we're going to get a better pay offer.
01:40The AFP has responded to the AFPA, that's the unions, saying that they will be taking
01:49this action or proposing to take this action outside Parliament House.
01:53They say they haven't received formal notification of this action but they want to be very clear
01:58the AFP will vigorously object to any action that jeopardises the safety and protection
02:03of high office holders, parliamentarians or designated airports.
02:09In terms of when this proposed action is proposed to take place, well it could be happening
02:14late this week or early next week but obviously many more negotiations to take place between
02:24these parties that are disputing over this pay increase so watch this space.