Police Association Victoria
Encyclopedia
The Police Association Victoria is the union organisation representing about 11,000 members of the Victoria Police
. The association is affiliated with the Police Federation of Australia
, representing over 50,000 Australian Police Officers.
After the 1923 Victorian Police strike
, which the organisation never sanctioned, the Police Pensions Act 1923 recognized the organisation as the one employee body with which the Sate Government would deal on police welfare and efficiency matters. A substantial pay rise and improved working conditions resulted from the Act, however it also made it illegal for members of the force to join a ‘political or industrial organisation’, and it threatened a twelve-month prison sentence for any member who withheld his services or caused disaffection.
and Victoria police have investigated the bullying allegations, but an ombudsman's report has found these investigations to be inadequate with key evidence ignored and wrongly made notes of political factors such as the state election and police wage negotiations. Mullett has rejected the accusations of bullying saying the report was scandalous and vexatious "One of the key recommendations of the ombudsman's report asks the Victoria Police to again go inside the police association and interfere in their processes and it's not acceptable," he said. His stance was supported by other unions represented by Victorian Trades Hall Council
Secretary Brian Boyd.
On 15 November 2007, Sen Sgt Paul Mullett was suspended from the Force. This followed concerns expressed by the head of a corruption inquiry, conducted by the Office of Police Integrity
, regarding interference in a murder investigation.
Recorded phone conversations, released at the Office of Police Integrity
hearings, prompted the Victoria Police
Commissioner Christine Nixon to suspend Paul Mullett.
On 29 July 2008 Sen Sgt Mullet was charged with two counts of perjury, two counts of misleading the director of the OPI and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
On 25 June 2009 perjury charges against former police union chief Paul Mullett were withdrawn in the Victorian Supreme Court.
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
. The association is affiliated with the Police Federation of Australia
Police Federation of Australia
The Police Federation of Australia is a peak union body that represents the interests of Australian police officers.It was formerly registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 on 1 January 1998...
, representing over 50,000 Australian Police Officers.
History
The Police Association was formed in 1917 arising from low wages and poor working conditions being endured by Victorian police officers at the time. Police had a long-standing grievance regarding their pension scheme abandoned by the Victorian Government in 1902.After the 1923 Victorian Police strike
1923 Victorian Police strike
The 1923 Victorian Police strike occurred in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. On the eve of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in November 1923, half the police force in Melbourne went on strike over the operation of a supervisory system using labour spies...
, which the organisation never sanctioned, the Police Pensions Act 1923 recognized the organisation as the one employee body with which the Sate Government would deal on police welfare and efficiency matters. A substantial pay rise and improved working conditions resulted from the Act, however it also made it illegal for members of the force to join a ‘political or industrial organisation’, and it threatened a twelve-month prison sentence for any member who withheld his services or caused disaffection.
Paul Mullett controversy
From 2005 to 2007 claims have been made of bullying by Association Secretary, Sen Sgt Paul Mullett. Victorian Workcover AuthorityVictorian Workcover Authority
The Victorian Workcover Authority is a government authority established by the State Government of Victoria, Australia. It has three functions:* Policing occupational health and safety legislation* Providing worker's compensation...
and Victoria police have investigated the bullying allegations, but an ombudsman's report has found these investigations to be inadequate with key evidence ignored and wrongly made notes of political factors such as the state election and police wage negotiations. Mullett has rejected the accusations of bullying saying the report was scandalous and vexatious "One of the key recommendations of the ombudsman's report asks the Victoria Police to again go inside the police association and interfere in their processes and it's not acceptable," he said. His stance was supported by other unions represented by Victorian Trades Hall Council
Victorian Trades Hall Council
The Victorian Trades Hall Council is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a Labour council, in the State of Victoria, Australia...
Secretary Brian Boyd.
On 15 November 2007, Sen Sgt Paul Mullett was suspended from the Force. This followed concerns expressed by the head of a corruption inquiry, conducted by the Office of Police Integrity
Office of Police Integrity
The Office of Police Integrity is a Victorian independent police oversight and anti-corruption agency established by the Victorian Government in November 2004...
, regarding interference in a murder investigation.
Recorded phone conversations, released at the Office of Police Integrity
Office of Police Integrity
The Office of Police Integrity is a Victorian independent police oversight and anti-corruption agency established by the Victorian Government in November 2004...
hearings, prompted the Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
Commissioner Christine Nixon to suspend Paul Mullett.
On 29 July 2008 Sen Sgt Mullet was charged with two counts of perjury, two counts of misleading the director of the OPI and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
On 25 June 2009 perjury charges against former police union chief Paul Mullett were withdrawn in the Victorian Supreme Court.