Pay talks between NSW police and officials are "well advanced" despite the large gulf between the state's latest offer for public sector workers and the union's asking price.
Premier Chris Minns fronted the Police Association of NSW's biennial conference on Tuesday as he acknowledged his government's offer of a 10.5 per cent pay rise over three years for all public-sector employees did not satisfy their demand.
The police union is asking for a 25 per cent pay bump over four years along with changes to superannuation.
Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton said the initial offer was nowhere near a sum the union would consider accepting.
But NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb was nonplussed about the gap between the parties' positions.
"We're well advanced in our negotiations and I wouldn't even contemplate industrial action until we've exhausted all of that," she said.
"What interests me and what officers tell me when I go out and visit stations and see officers is they want a pay rise."
The NSW government is facing crunch talks with a range of public sector unions in the coming months as key workers such as firefighters and nurses push for more than the proposed three-year increase, which is expected to cost about $3.6 billion
Others such as teachers have secured large, one-year pay bumps but are yet to negotiate longer-term agreements.
Mr Minns stressed he did not want to engage in public negotiations with the police union but added the 10.5 per cent "base case" was not a final offer.
"Of course we're open to negotiations with relevant unions about a long-term wage deal for the state," he said.
"That's going to take time, but I'm confident now that we've put out the base case, we can look at the budget, we can look at pay conditions for NSW public-sector workers … and get long-term, affordable deals that deliver real wage growth."
Mr Morton said the current offer did little for NSW officers.
"This policy does not represent a final offer or anything close to what we would accept for our members," he said.
"The (union) continues to negotiate with the NSW government and pursue a 25 per cent pay rise across all ranks over four years, compressed pay scales and recognition for experienced police officers that train our newest probationers."
The current deal ends on June 30 and Mr Morton flagged police would push for back-pay if a deal wasn't reached by then.
