Update on Tasmanian State Service wage negotiations (27 Jan 2026)
Hello everyone
I am writing to update you on the status of the wage negotiations given a few changes that have recently occurred.
As you know, the government remains firmly committed to delivering a fair, affordable, reasonable and sustainable wage increase for our valued State Service employees.
Wage negotiations are ongoing, and our goal remains clear: to reach agreements that recognise the important work you do while ensuring long term fiscal sustainability for the state.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that our lead negotiator, Norm Mcilfatrick, has had to step down from his role earlier than planned for health reasons. I thank Norm sincerely for his considerable contribution and leadership over the past year, and his work with agency negotiating teams that remain in place to negotiate remaining agreements.
We have made strong progress in recent months, with three agreements now finalised:
- Tasmania Police – Three-year agreement with headline wage increases of 3%, 3% and 2.75%, along with improvements to conditions and allowances.
- Tasmania Fire Service – One-year agreement with a 3% wage increase and improved conditions, with further work continuing toward a longer-term agreement.
- Education Facility Attendants – One-year agreement with a 3% wage increase, with some structural adjustments, with work continuing toward a longer-term agreement.
On 23 December, we made a further one-year offer to employees covered by the Public Sector Union Wages Agreement (PSUWA). This offer includes a 3% wage increase, effective from the first full pay period after 1 January 2026, with structural adjustments to lift starting salary points and State Service standard condition improvements. This offer remains open until 5pm on 30 January.
This offer has been made to provide a salary increase as soon as possible while negotiations continue for longer agreements.
We have continued to meet with unions in January to seek to finalise further offers and progress longer-term agreement negotiations.
All government bargaining team representatives continue to have the authority to negotiate on wage structures, offsets and conditions at all meetings. As Head of the State Service, I am kept informed of the status and progress of all negotiation meetings, and provide and seek instructions to ensure progress on counter offers continue to be made.
A decision on whether to appoint another lead negotiator, or to continue progressing with a multi-negotiator model for the longer-term agreements, will be made shortly. I will update you once a decision has been confirmed. In the meantime, negotiations continue with the established bargaining teams in place.
Thank you for your ongoing professionalism and service during this period of significant work. We will continue to keep you updated as negotiations progress.
Regards,
Kath
Kathrine Morgan-Wicks
Head of the State Service
Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
27 Jan 2026
