Greens spokesperson for Industrial Relations Hon Alison Xamon MLC and spokesperson for Police Hon Tim Clifford MLC have today welcomed Government reforms for the medical retirement process for WA police officers.
Ms Xamon said she was pleased officers deemed medically unfit would no longer be retired under Section 8 of the Police Act – the same mechanism used to retire officers found to be corrupt or ethically unfit for service.
“The stigma of being associated with Section 8, for officers already devastated by physical or mental injury and the subsequent loss of a career they loved has been profound,” Ms Xamon said.
“Medically retired officers are workers too – and deserve the same level of compensation afforded to the rest of the workforce in cases where they are no longer able to work.”
Mr Clifford said medically retired officers have historically been treated horrendously.
“This is a positive step in the right direction – and not before time,” he said.
