The union representing the Northern Territory’s police officers says its members are “prepared to do whatever it takes”, including not working overtime, only attending to mandatory duties and claiming every hour they work, to send their message to the Fyles Government that they want a new consent agreement now.

NT Police Association president Paul McCue made the claims this morning, assuring the public that the industrial action would be a “last resort” and that it would not lead to a “no-response” from police when called.

However, Mr McCue said the union is frustrated with the lack of progress on a new enterprise bargaining agreement since negotiations began in February, that has seen 120 officers resign and more than 70 officers assaulted in the time since, and that the strike action would occur if negotiations continue to drag on.

They are seeking a pay rise of more than the two per cent on offer as well as minimum staffing levels and other improved work conditions.

“Interstate police forces are actively recruiting our members, with many experienced detectives and TRG members already exiting the door,” Mr McCue said.

“Defence has also flagged its intention to boost numbers by 60,000. Competition has never been greater.

“Our members are not being unreasonable. They want a pay increase that addresses increasing cost of living pressures in the Territory. They want safe minimum staffing levels, and they want the right to disconnect from work when they have finished their shift and are not on-call.

“We have always been prepared to negotiate in good faith, but there is nothing genuine about a Government that is trying to cheat our members out of the pay rise they deserve.”

Mr McCue said the government and Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker’s offer of a two per cent pay rise was “insulting” to hard-working officers who sacrificed a lot to serve and protect Territorians.

He added that the government and Mr Chalker had also ignored August’s NTPA member survey which found that 93 per cent of responding members did not think there were enough police, 79 per cent who said morale was “low or very low” and 88 per cent who said they were “dissatisfied or very dissatisfied” with then-pay freeze offer from the government.

Those results also found that 80 per cent of respondents had no faith in Mr Chalker’s leadership.

“These results should have been a serious wake-up call to Government, and Commissioner Chalker that our police force is in crisis,” Mr McCue said.

“But we are yet to see any indication these results are being taken seriously, and that Government has a plan to turn these results around.

“The community of the Northern Territory deserve to be kept safe. What happens next in these negotiations sits squarely at the feet of the Fyles Government.”

Police Minister Kate Worden’s office has been contacted for comment.