• ​New Labour Agreement signed between Federal and State Government
• WA to be the first Australian jurisdiction to finalise new Labour Agreement
• WA Police Force recruitment drive now targeting UK Irish and NZ police officers

The Western Australian Police Force today becomes the first jurisdiction in the nation to launch an international recruitment campaign targeting police officers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.

The campaign was made possible after the signing of a landmark Labour Agreement between the Federal and Western Australian Government. The first of its kind in Australia, the historic agreement enables WA to recommence recruiting police officers from overseas ahead of every other State and Territory.

From today, the WA Police Force will actively begin recruiting more police officers from New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Wales.

Under the new Labour Agreement, skilled police officers from the United Kingdom and Ireland will be enabled entry into WA over the next five years under the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) visa, which enables their transition into the WA Police Force and places them on a pathway to citizenship.

The previous Labour Agreement, which allowed WA to recruit officers from the UK, expired in 2019. WA Police have not actively recruited overseas since 2017.

With more than 480 additional officers now active compared to when the McGowan Government first took office, WA's Police Force has never been bigger.

The McGowan Government has committed to an additional 950 police officers and the new Labour Agreement is expected to provide a major boost to the current recruitment drive.

Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:

"This landmark agreement with the Federal Government will ensure specialist and skilled police officers from a number of countries across the world will be able to migrate to Western Australia to join the WA Police Force.

"Every State in Australia is currently trying to get Labour Agreements signed to allow for overseas recruitment in a range of sectors, including police.

"The McGowan Government securing the first of such an agreement gives our State a strong head start to attract the best possible police candidates from the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.

"The Western Australian Police Force has already recruited more than 1,000 new officers over the past two years. We have more than 480 additional officers on the beat right now, compared with when we took office. There have never been more police on our streets, and the McGowan Government is committed to continuing our record police recruitment drive and making WA safer for our community.

"I thank the Federal Government for their assistance. WA is a great place to live and our Western Australian Police Force is a fantastic place to work. Whether you are young and single or have a family, to those overseas officers applying to come and work here in the WA sunshine, you will not regret the move."

Comments attributed to WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch:

"As Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Force, I acknowledge the work of both the Federal and State Governments in enabling this Labour Agreement.

"Policing styles in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand are quite compatible with ours, and transition programs have previously worked in our favour.

"My message to officers working in those countries is simple. We want skilled, experienced constables to work on the frontline to help us cover the biggest policing jurisdiction in the world. 

"If you have at least three years' experience in your Police Force and you are under 55 years of age, we want to hear from you."

Minister's office: 6552 5600

WA Police Media - 08 9222 1011