Australian Federal Police (AFP) members are reviewing their employer's latest wage proposal. 

A proposed new enterprise agreement has been released for examination, coinciding with New South Wales' (NSW) strategic recruitment drive aimed at attracting federal officers.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb have announced an aggressive campaign to recruit up to 1,500 police officers from other jurisdictions. 

This effort is seen as an attempt to exploit the AFP's current negotiations and potential dissatisfaction among its members. 

NSW's offer includes incentives such as rank retention, shortened training periods at the Goulburn Police Academy, and a lower minimum recruitment age.

The recruitment drive from NSW poses a significant challenge for the AFP. Federal pay rates have fallen behind those of NSW and Queensland, with both states leveraging this advantage to attract experienced federal officers.

The AFP's proposed wage rise is constrained by the Australian Public Service Commission's cap of 11.2 per cent over three years. 

This figure was agreed upon by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), despite an initial demand for a 20 per cent increase.

The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA), representing AFP officers, has recommended its members reject the current pay proposal, deeming it insufficient. 

As negotiations continue, the AFP bargaining team has urged staff to carefully consider the offer, saying the proposed agreement includes significantly enhanced conditions and a pay offer nearly double that of the previous agreement.

If the proposal is rejected, the AFP plans to survey employees to understand the specific reasons for their dissatisfaction, potentially restarting the bargaining process.

The AFPA has warned that industrial action, including potential disruptions at airports, could escalate if negotiations fail. 

“If the airports continue to operate, the airports are then taking on that risk. If parliament chooses to sit, the parliament is then taking that risk,” said AFPA President Alex Caruana.