Vic: Police union hints at industrial action

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2007
Vic: Police union hints at industrial action

MELBOURNE, Feb 13 AAP - The head of Victoria's police union has hinted at industrial
action if the Victorian government does not intervene in a dispute with police chief Christine
Nixon.

Police Association secretary Paul Mullett has accused Chief Commissioner Christine
Nixon of undermining the union by allowing former delegates of the union's executive to
make accusations of bullying and malpractice in the union on the ABC's Four Corners program
last night.

Mr Mullett said yesterday Ms Nixon had behaved unethically and tried to place puppet
delegates on the executive.

"This is starting to become a serious political problem for the Premier (Steve Bracks),"

he told The Age newspaper.

"We talk about conduct, about our members, and the Police Association preserves the
professionalisation of policing, but (Ms Nixon) is an independent authority, she has attempted
to control the Police Association, and there are serious ethical questions that need to
be raised.

"She needs to be reminded to focus on the key issues, not demean her position by trying
to control the Police Association."

Association members reserved their position on whether to take industrial action over
the issue, he said.

The union has set a March 1 deadline for the Victorian government to order Ms Nixon
to implement an audit of police resources it promised during last year's election campaign.

The government previously has avoided intervening in the dispute.

Mr Mullett said the appearance of former union president Janet Mitchell and former
delegate Gavan Ryan on the ABC proved Ms Nixon was undermining the union because she must
have permitted them to appear.

AAP jrd/rs

KEYWORD: POLICE VIC DAYLEAD

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