Police in Canberra could take further strike action as their interstate counterparts secure a generational pay increase.
The Australian Federal Police force is in the midst of negotiating a new pay deal with the federal government, while battling long-term issues of low pay and poor workforce retention.
Meanwhile, just over the border in NSW, cops have secured an eye-watering pay rise over the next three years.
It has left a bitter taste in the mouth of the federal police force's union president who says Anthony Albanese's government must think "AFP officers are nowhere near as important as state police".
The salary for an NSW level-three senior constable will jump from $107,600 to $146,600 by mid-2027, under a deal struck by the NSW Police Association and the state government.
In light of the raise, Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana said he was bitterly disappointed the federal government hadn't done more for his members who are part of "the lowest paid police force in Australia."
Mr Caruana said in an interview on ABC Canberra, a similarly ranked police officer in the AFP would be on about $90,000 before allowances.
The current pay deal offered to the AFP, an 11.2 per cent increase over three years, wouldn't get federal cops anywhere near "the same weight class" when it comes to take-home pay.
He said the deal offered to the federal force was an act of blatant dispresect compared to the new conditions NSW police will work under.
"But even if you don't care about fairness, undervaluing AFP officers creates a huge problem for the national interest," he said
"If you don't care about offering a fair deal to AFP officers, then you don't care about the threat of terrorism. You don't care about cyber crime and online child exploitation material. And you don't care about our role in the Pacific."
He said the offer barely got federal police to the same level NSW cops were at before their huge pay rise.
The federal force is currently undertaking a vote on this offer, with the union urging a "no" vote.
Mr Caruana said early feedback on the offer had indicated about 70 per cent of members were unhappy with the conditions.
With its low pay, the AFP also faces nation-high attrition rates, at more than 18 per cent.
Mr Carauana told ABC Canberra South Australia's government was panicking with an attrition rate of 6.6 per cent.
"Why isn't the federal government panicking?" he asked.
The AFP took industrial action and walked off the job in Canberra earlier this year.
Mr Caruana said if members voted "no" to the current offer, the union would look at "escalating that action".
In a statement, Mr Caruana said the deal offered by the federal government was calibrated for public servants, not operational police officers, forensic scientists and cyber experts.
"From a moral perspective the Albanese government's deal is clearly inadequate," he said.
"AFP officers put their safety and health on the line dealing with the worst of humanity so the rest of us don't have to worry about it. Paedophile rings, international drug trafficking, illegal arms dealers, murderous terrorists. AFP officers have to enter these dark worlds at risk to their physical and mental well-being."
NSW's new deal, which includes back pay to July 1, is in line with what the union had demanded and officials have asked members to accept the government's offer.
"We set the bar high and for good reason," Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton told members on Monday.
"For the vast majority of members, this is a generational change to your award.
"This offer will see the highest pay increases achieved in the last 30 years for NSW Police (and) outstrips what we have seen accepted by other public-sector agencies."
The offer introduces a $5400 leadership retention payments for senior officers and allowances for training first-year officers.
Commissioned officers - such as inspectors and superintendents - will receive increases of between 20 and 27 per cent, inclusive of the retention payment.
The government was proud to have reached an offer that recognised "the difficult and dangerous work police do every day to keep us safe", Police Minister Yasmin Catley said.
