A blind eye ... the AFP are warning against changes to compensation laws. Source: Supplied
FEDERAL police officers may be forced to ignore potentially life-threatening criminal situations while on short work breaks, under proposed changes to workplace compensation laws.
The Australian Federal Police Association has sounded the alarm over the federal government's Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill, which would alter the current Commonwealth compensation arrangements for injuries sustained by employees while they are on a designated "recess" break.
The proposed amendments would also wind back compensation arrangements for AFP employees who "voluntarily and unreasonably submitted to an abnormal risk of injury" — which police claim, could include most of their day-to-day work.
The AFPA's chief executive Dennis Gellatly has warned parliamentarians in a strongly-worded submission to the Senate that the "potential ramifications for police are severe".
He told News Corp Australia that lives could be at risk if a police officer has to think twice about whether to intervene in a situation.
"Sometimes life and death decisions are instantaneous decisions, if a police officer has to second guess themselves, the chance may have passed where their reaction and response could have saved a life," he said.
Crucial to stopping crime ... the Australian Federal Police. Source: Supplied
Mr Gellatly said the proposed changes would see police officers exposed to "an unacceptable level of risk and possible cost" should they be injured in the course of duty.
"A police officers Oath of Office compels him or her to act in all circumstances thus potentially exposing the officer to injury while off-duty, on a recess break or during travel to or form the workplace," Mr Gellatly warns in his submission.
Law firm Slater and Gordon, which frequently handles workers compensation cases, has also warned the changes could be highly detrimental to police.
National practice group leader Rachael James said reintroducing an exclusion that would leave workers injured during a recess uncovered would severely impact on emergency workers.
"Those who work for the police force and other emergency services do not always have a designated place to take recess, let alone somewhere that is guaranteed to be safe," Ms James said.
"Emergency services workers who put their lives at risk everyday should be covered under Comcare legislation (if) they're taking a break from their frontline duties."
Mr Gellatly wants federal police exempt from the changes, but it is understood the government will argue it is highly unlikely that police officers discharging their duties would be seen as 'voluntarily and unreasonably submitting to an abnormal risk of injury'.
The government is also expected to argue that an existing subsection of the act covering employees who are temporarily absent from their place of work when undertaking an activity at the direction or request of the Commonwealth, would sufficiently protect AFP officers on the road.
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