Police have our backs. It's time we had theirs.

Adam Hort MLA
‍Shadow Minister for Police; Corrective Services; Youth

‍Ben Small MP
‍Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure; Shadow Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters; Opposition Whip; Federal Member for Forrest

The WA Liberals have launched a petition calling on the Albanese Labor Government to extendFringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions to police officers, bringing them into line withparamedics and hospital workers who already receive the benefit.

This change would allow police to salary package up to approximately $17,000 per year,delivering an estimated $5,000 to $9,000 annual boost to take-home pay without increasingtheir pre-tax salaries.

The call comes as new figures show police numbers in Western Australia are going backwardswhile frontline pressure continues to rise.Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort said extending FBT exemptions was a practical way todeliver cost-of-living relief while supporting recruitment and retention.

“Police officers are under more strain than ever before, yet they are being left behind when itcomes to practical financial support,” Mr Hort said.

“Paramedics and hospital workers can salary package part of their income tax-free, but policecannot. That is a clear gap that, if fixed, would send a strong message to our blue line that wehave their backs.”Mr Hort said the case for action was even stronger given police numbers are now declining.

“Police numbers are going backwards at a time when violent crime is rising, and the officerswho remain are being asked to do more with less,” he said.

“If we want to rebuild the force, we need to start by properly supporting the people already onthe frontline.“The Cook Labor Government hasn’t delivered meaningful support this term. We can andshould be doing more to back our blue line, and this is a practical way to start.”

Federal Member for Forrest, Ben Small MP, said the petition was calling on the Albanese LaborGovernment to deliver real, practical support for police.

“Our police officers have our backs every day, and it is time we had theirs. The petition is asimple way for community members to lend their voices to this campaign, so that we canshow Canberra that locals really do have the backs of our police,” Mr Small said.

“This simple change would put more than an extra $100 per week into the pockets of policeofficers each week, helping to offset the costs of Albanese’s home-grown inflation crisis.“Police are left out of a system that already supports other frontline workers, and that issomething the Albanese Labor Government could fix with the stroke of a pen.”

Mr Small said extending FBT exemptions was a practical step the Albanese Labor Governmentcould take immediately.“This is a simple, targeted reform that would boost take-home pay and recognise the criticalrole police play in keeping our communities safe,” he said.

“I’ve been chased out of a home by a person threatening me with a knife when serving as avolunteer ambulance officer, and at the same time the local police officers were running towards the danger – to keep me safe.”


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