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The State Government has accused the WA Police Union of taking money out of public hands and putting it into the pockets of criminals, following the latest escalation in a lengthy pay war.
The union, which is campaigning for a bigger pay rise for police officers than the $1,000 the Government is offering, has instructed police prosecutors not to seek costs associated with arrests and summons during Magistrates Court proceedings, effective immediately.
This instruction comes on top of a direction to officers last month to issue more cautions instead of fines for driving and other minor offences.
The union estimates its industrial action will now cost the state more than $300,000 a day, claiming the Government has already lost more than $10 million in revenue because of the dispute.
The action was strongly condemned by the Government, with Treasurer Ben Wyatt saying it would only benefit criminals.
"This is not money being taken from Ben Wyatt or [Premier] Mark McGowan, this is money being taken from West Australians for schools and hospitals," Mr Wyatt said.
"It is putting that money into the pockets of criminals."
Attorney-General John Quigley said the courtroom was not the place for industrial action, insisting it would be inappropriate for police prosecutors to withhold information from judges.
"Anyone who is appearing at the bar table, be they a lawyer or a policeman, who refuses to give an honest answer to the court puts their right to appear in court in jeopardy," Mr Quigley said.
Police prepared for sustained campaign
Police Minister Michelle Roberts described the Union's move as "very disappointing".
"This will cost taxpayers, it will cut public revenue further and make the task of balancing the budget harder," she said.
WA Police Union president George Tilbury defended that action, while conceding it meant some people who broke the law would "get a lucky break", by not having to pay the costs they otherwise would have.
"They (police officers) are resolute, they want to move forward, they will take the action they are taking now and will continue to escalate that situation," Mr Tilbury said.
"The Government is doing this like a dictatorship. You can understand why police officers are really dirty on the Government."
Hundreds of officers marched on State Parliament last week to demand an improved pay deal, with many booing and heckling Premier Mark McGowan after his address to the crowd.
The union wants at least a 1.5 per cent pay rise for officers, insisting that was what it had been promised prior to a change in Government wage policy in May.
The new policy limits public sector wage hikes to $1,000, with Mr McGowan repeatedly insisting his Government will not budge from that.
Topics: industrial-relations, perth-6000
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