What leave do NT Police officers get?
Every leave type, with the clause in the 2022 Consent Agreement that sets it.
Recreation leave
- Entitlement
- 7 weeks on the main pay table; a 6-week table also exists; PPSOs 7 weeks (280 hours)
- Clause (CA 2022)
- Att. A cl 7–8; NTPFES
Remote locality leave
- Entitlement
- Group A and Tennant Creek: +1 week at 24 and 36 months, then yearly; Group B: +1 week a year
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 57
Katherine retention leave
- Entitlement
- +1 week after 3 years, then +1 week each 12 months
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 39
Purchased leave
- Entitlement
- 1 to 6 extra weeks a year after 12 months' service
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 41
Recreation leave cash-up
- Entitlement
- Allowed if at least 4 weeks remain accrued
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 38
Long service leave
- Entitlement
- 4 calendar months after 10 years, then 12 calendar days a year
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 42–44
Personal leave
- Entitlement
- Total set by the 2011 Determination; carer's leave 10 days a year; PPSOs 20 days
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 45; NTPFES
Primary caregiver leave
- Entitlement
- 14 weeks paid after 12 months; 18 weeks after 5 years; up to 3 years total
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 36
Partner leave
- Entitlement
- 1 week paid after 12 months; 2 weeks after 5 years
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 36
Other paid leave
- Entitlement
- Compassionate, defence, kinship, gender transition, NAIDOC, health screening, family violence, foster carer, blood donor
- Clause (CA 2022)
- cl 47–55
| Leave type | Entitlement | Clause (CA 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation leave | 7 weeks on the main pay table; a 6-week table also exists; PPSOs 7 weeks (280 hours) | Att. A cl 7–8; NTPFES |
| Remote locality leave | Group A and Tennant Creek: +1 week at 24 and 36 months, then yearly; Group B: +1 week a year | cl 57 |
| Katherine retention leave | +1 week after 3 years, then +1 week each 12 months | cl 39 |
| Purchased leave | 1 to 6 extra weeks a year after 12 months' service | cl 41 |
| Recreation leave cash-up | Allowed if at least 4 weeks remain accrued | cl 38 |
| Long service leave | 4 calendar months after 10 years, then 12 calendar days a year | cl 42–44 |
| Personal leave | Total set by the 2011 Determination; carer's leave 10 days a year; PPSOs 20 days | cl 45; NTPFES |
| Primary caregiver leave | 14 weeks paid after 12 months; 18 weeks after 5 years; up to 3 years total | cl 36 |
| Partner leave | 1 week paid after 12 months; 2 weeks after 5 years | cl 36 |
| Other paid leave | Compassionate, defence, kinship, gender transition, NAIDOC, health screening, family violence, foster carer, blood donor | cl 47–55 |
From the Consent Agreement 2022. The 2025 agreement may have changed some of these; its text has not been published.
On the seven-week table the NT gives more recreation leave than SA, Tasmania or the AFP, and it's the only one of the four with a pay table that pays more for a week less. The rest of this guide explains both.
Which document sets NT Police leave?
NT leave sits in layers. The base is Police Arbitral Tribunal Determination No. 1 of 2011. Each consent agreement then varies clauses of that determination "for the life of this Agreement". The 2022 Consent Agreement rewrote the recreation leave, cash-up, purchased leave, long service leave, personal leave and parental leave clauses.
The current agreement is the Northern Territory Police Force Consent Agreement 2025, filed with the Police Arbitral Tribunal on 12 November 2025. Its text is only available to NTPA members, so we can't confirm whether it changed any leave clause. Everything below comes from the 2022 agreement, which we read in full, plus NTPFES's public pages.
What isn't public yet
Three things we can't confirm: the base recreation leave entitlement in the 2011 Determination, how a member is placed on the six- or seven-week table, and the total annual sick leave. The Police Arbitral Tribunal Secretary, NTPFES People Services or the NTPA can confirm each one.
Six weeks or seven weeks: which do you get?
The 2022 Consent Agreement has two complete pay tables for police: cl 7, "Seven weeks leave" and cl 8, "Six Weeks Leave". Every rank appears in both, except Superintendents, who appear only in the six-week table. The six-week rates are higher.
Constable 1
- Seven weeks table
- $79,675
- Six weeks table
- $82,143
- Six-week premium
- $2,468 (3.1%)
- Value of one week (7-wk rate)
- $1,527
Constable 1/C 10
- Seven weeks table
- $95,217
- Six weeks table
- $98,169
- Six-week premium
- $2,952 (3.1%)
- Value of one week (7-wk rate)
- $1,825
Senior Constable 1
- Seven weeks table
- $99,978
- Six weeks table
- $103,079
- Six-week premium
- $3,101 (3.1%)
- Value of one week (7-wk rate)
- $1,916
Sergeant 1
- Seven weeks table
- $119,466
- Six weeks table
- $123,170
- Six-week premium
- $3,704 (3.1%)
- Value of one week (7-wk rate)
- $2,290
Senior Sergeant 1
- Seven weeks table
- $131,754
- Six weeks table
- $135,838
- Six-week premium
- $4,084 (3.1%)
- Value of one week (7-wk rate)
- $2,525
| Pay point | Seven weeks table | Six weeks table | Six-week premium | Value of one week (7-wk rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable 1 | $79,675 | $82,143 | $2,468 (3.1%) | $1,527 |
| Constable 1/C 10 | $95,217 | $98,169 | $2,952 (3.1%) | $1,825 |
| Senior Constable 1 | $99,978 | $103,079 | $3,101 (3.1%) | $1,916 |
| Sergeant 1 | $119,466 | $123,170 | $3,704 (3.1%) | $2,290 |
| Senior Sergeant 1 | $131,754 | $135,838 | $4,084 (3.1%) | $2,525 |
Seven-week figures from our NT data file; six-week figures read by us from Attachment A cl 8 of the 2022 agreement. One week's value is our calculation: salary ÷ 52.18. Both tables have since risen under the 2025 agreement; current six-week rates are not published.
Here's how the trade-off looked in 2024. A Sergeant 1 on the six-week table was paid $3,704 a year more than on the seven-week table. One week of leave at the seven-week rate was worth about $2,290. So, on paper, giving up a week bought more than a week's pay.
What we know
- ✓Both tables are in the 2022 agreement (Attachment A cl 7 and 8)
- ✓Six-week rates are about 3% higher at every rank
- ✓The main salary table and NTPFES pay figures use the seven-week table
- ✓PPSOs are confirmed on 7 weeks (280 hours)
What we don't
- ✕How a member is placed on either table
- ✕Whether you can choose or switch, and how often
- ✕Whether the 2025 agreement kept both tables
- ✕Which table applies to which commissioned officers below Superintendent
Most pay comparisons, including ours on the NT Police salary page, use the seven-week figures. If you're offered the six-week table, compare the extra salary with the value of the week you give up, and remember that a higher salary also lifts overtime and super.
What is a week of leave worth at your rank?
This table uses the current rates from 7 August 2026. NTPFES publishes the Constable and Constable First Class points; higher ranks are our estimates from the 2022 agreement plus the agreed 2025 rises, marked "est.".
Constable (Constable 1)
- Base salary
- $87,005
- One week
- $1,667
- Six weeks
- $10,005
- Seven weeks
- $11,672
Constable First Class (Constable 1/C 10)
- Base salary
- $103,977
- One week
- $1,993
- Six weeks
- $11,956
- Seven weeks
- $13,949
Senior Constable (Senior Constable 1) est.
- Base salary
- $109,176
- One week
- $2,092
- Six weeks
- $12,554
- Seven weeks
- $14,646
Sergeant (Sergeant 1) est.
- Base salary
- $130,457
- One week
- $2,500
- Six weeks
- $15,001
- Seven weeks
- $17,501
| Pay point | Base salary | One week | Six weeks | Seven weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable (Constable 1) | $87,005 | $1,667 | $10,005 | $11,672 |
| Constable First Class (Constable 1/C 10) | $103,977 | $1,993 | $11,956 | $13,949 |
| Senior Constable (Senior Constable 1) est. | $109,176 | $2,092 | $12,554 | $14,646 |
| Sergeant (Sergeant 1) est. | $130,457 | $2,500 | $15,001 | $17,501 |
Calculated by us: salary ÷ 52.18. Base salary only; the 23% consolidated allowance and the General Policing Allowance are not included, because we haven't confirmed how they're paid on leave.
At Constable First Class 10 ($103,977), seven weeks off is worth about $13,949 in base salary. For your full package including the 23% consolidated allowance, use the calculator below.
NT Police take-home pay
Pick your NT rank and step, add allowances and overtime, and see your fortnightly take-home after 2026-27 tax.
Do NT Police get extra leave at remote stations?
Yes, and it's one of the NT's biggest incentives. Officers stationed at an isolated locality earn extra recreation leave on top of their standard entitlement (cl 57), and Katherine has its own retention leave (cl 39).
Isolated Policing Group A (e.g. Borroloola, Galiwinku, Ntaria, Yirrkala)
- Extra recreation leave
- +1 week at 24 months, +1 week at 36 months, then +1 week each 12 months
- Clause
- cl 57(a)(i)
Isolated Policing Group B
- Extra recreation leave
- +1 week for every 12 months at the location
- Clause
- cl 57(a)(ii)
Tennant Creek
- Extra recreation leave
- +1 week at 24 months, +1 week at 36 months, then +1 week each 12 months
- Clause
- cl 57(a)(iii)
Katherine
- Extra recreation leave
- +1 week after 3 years' continuous service, then +1 week each 12 months
- Clause
- cl 39
| Location | Extra recreation leave | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated Policing Group A (e.g. Borroloola, Galiwinku, Ntaria, Yirrkala) | +1 week at 24 months, +1 week at 36 months, then +1 week each 12 months | cl 57(a)(i) |
| Isolated Policing Group B | +1 week for every 12 months at the location | cl 57(a)(ii) |
| Tennant Creek | +1 week at 24 months, +1 week at 36 months, then +1 week each 12 months | cl 57(a)(iii) |
| Katherine | +1 week after 3 years' continuous service, then +1 week each 12 months | cl 39 |
- 1
Leave you must take
Isolated postingsIf you're posted for two years, you're expected to take 6 weeks of recreation leave after 12 months, and at least one more week on completing 2 years (cl 57).
- 2
Long service leave is frozen
LSLLSL credits are frozen while you're at an isolated locality and generally can't be used there, except in exceptional circumstances at the Commissioner's discretion. You're protected from forfeiting it for up to 5 years after you leave (cl 57).
- 3
Leaving early
Pro rataIf you leave voluntarily before 24 months you lose the pro-rata extra leave. If the Commissioner moves you, you keep a pro-rata share.
Remote posts also come with the Consolidated Remote Incentive Allowance, free housing or a housing allowance and fares out of isolated localities. See the NT Police force guide for the full package.
How is NT Police leave rostered and approved?
The 2022 agreement sets out "Recreation Leave Management Principles" (cl 34). They put the onus on management, not you, to make sure a station is staffed when leave is approved.
- 1
October to December
PlanApply for next calendar year's recreation and long service leave. It's published in the Police Gazette in January (cl 34(f)).
- 2
Miss the deadline and dates are set for you
DefaultIf you haven't nominated dates by the end of December, your manager sets them after consulting you.
- 3
Full entitlement on the roster
RosterEach year's roster must show your full entitlement, or a footnote explaining why you're set down for less than 6 weeks (cl 34(g)).
- 4
Changes and transfers
ChangesYou can ask to change gazetted leave with reasonable notice. If you're compulsorily transferred, your leave can't be changed without your informed consent (cl 34(l)–(m)).
Ensuring sufficient staffing is a management issue: the onus is not on the member applying for leave (CA 2022 cl 34(c)).
Can you buy extra leave or cash it up?
NT Police can buy more extra leave than AFP members, who are capped at four weeks. After 12 months' continuous service you can apply to buy one to six extra weeks a year (cl 41). On the seven-week table that's up to 13 weeks off a year.
Purchased leave rules (cl 41)
- ✓ Paid for by fortnightly deductions over 12 months, including allowances payable on leave
- ✓ Must be used within 6 months after payments finish
- ✓ Taken in blocks of at least one week
- ✓ Use your recreation leave first
- ✓ Counts as service for all purposes
- ✓ Unused leave not deferred for operational reasons lapses and is refunded
- ✓ Super for Choice of Fund members is calculated on the reduced salary
- ✓ The agreement says to get independent tax and super advice first
You can also cash up recreation leave, provided you keep at least four weeks accrued and each cash-up is agreed in writing (cl 38). You must be paid at least what you'd have got for taking the leave.
How much long service leave do NT Police get?
Long service leave is 4 calendar months after 10 years of continuous service, then 12 calendar days for each further year (cl 42). The agreement values a day of long service leave as annual salary ÷ (30 × 12) (cl 42(f)), so 4 months is a third of a year's salary.
At 10 years
4 months
120 calendar days
Each extra year
12 days
calendar days
4 months at 1/C 10
$34,659
base salary, our calculation
At Constable First Class 10, each further year adds about $3,466. Payment in lieu doesn't include allowances (cl 44(d)(iii)).
Pro rata on resignation
- Detail
- 7 years: 22.5 days; 8 years: 45 days; 9 years: 67.5 days
- Clause
- cl 42(e)
Medical retirement before 10 years
- Detail
- Commissioner may pay 0.4 of a month per year of NT service
- Clause
- cl 42(l)
Prior service
- Detail
- Other public services, ADF or AFP can count after 2 years with NTPF; accrues at 0.3 of a month a year
- Clause
- cl 43
Use it or plan it
- Detail
- Must be used within 3 years of each entitlement, unless deferred by agreement
- Clause
- cl 44(b)
Half pay
- Detail
- Can be taken at half pay for twice as long
- Clause
- cl 44(d)(ii)
Part cash-out
- Detail
- Take at least half as leave and have the rest paid out
- Clause
- cl 44(d)(iii)
Minimum period
- Detail
- 7 calendar days on full pay, or 1 month on half pay
- Clause
- cl 44(e)
Apply 6 months ahead
- Detail
- Can then only be refused in extraordinary circumstances
- Clause
- cl 44(i)
| Rule | Detail | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Pro rata on resignation | 7 years: 22.5 days; 8 years: 45 days; 9 years: 67.5 days | cl 42(e) |
| Medical retirement before 10 years | Commissioner may pay 0.4 of a month per year of NT service | cl 42(l) |
| Prior service | Other public services, ADF or AFP can count after 2 years with NTPF; accrues at 0.3 of a month a year | cl 43 |
| Use it or plan it | Must be used within 3 years of each entitlement, unless deferred by agreement | cl 44(b) |
| Half pay | Can be taken at half pay for twice as long | cl 44(d)(ii) |
| Part cash-out | Take at least half as leave and have the rest paid out | cl 44(d)(iii) |
| Minimum period | 7 calendar days on full pay, or 1 month on half pay | cl 44(e) |
| Apply 6 months ahead | Can then only be refused in extraordinary circumstances | cl 44(i) |
How much sick and carer's leave do NT Police get?
You're entitled to paid personal leave from the day you're appointed (cl 45(b)). The total yearly amount is in the 2011 Determination, which we haven't read, so we don't quote it. PPSOs are confirmed at 4 weeks (20 days) a year.
- ✓ Carer's leave: 10 days in every 12 months, cumulative since 1 January 2010 (cl 45(e))
- ✓ Up to 4 rostered shifts a calendar year without evidence (cl 45(f))
- ✓ Tell your supervisor verbally as soon as practicable on the day (cl 45(g))
- ✓ In remote areas a statutory declaration can replace a medical certificate (cl 45(i))
- ✓ Work injuries: the Commissioner keeps you on normal weekly earnings for 12 months (cl 46)
- ✓ Ask NTPFES for your total sick leave balance in hours
How much parental leave do NT Police get?
The 2022 agreement replaced the old parental leave rules entirely (cl 36). Paid leave depends on how long you've served when the leave starts.
Primary caregiver
- Service
- Under 39 weeks
- Paid
- Nil
- Total available
- 52 weeks
Primary caregiver
- Service
- 39 weeks to 12 months
- Paid
- Pro rata, up to 14 weeks
- Total available
- 52 weeks
Primary caregiver
- Service
- 12 months
- Paid
- 14 weeks
- Total available
- 3 years
Primary caregiver
- Service
- 5 years
- Paid
- 18 weeks
- Total available
- 3 years
Partner leave
- Service
- 12 months
- Paid
- 1 week
- Total available
- 3 years
Partner leave
- Service
- 5 years
- Paid
- 2 weeks
- Total available
- 3 years
Pre-natal leave
- Service
- All members
- Paid
- 8 hours a pregnancy
- Total available
- 8 hours
| Leave | Service | Paid | Total available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary caregiver | Under 39 weeks | Nil | 52 weeks |
| Primary caregiver | 39 weeks to 12 months | Pro rata, up to 14 weeks | 52 weeks |
| Primary caregiver | 12 months | 14 weeks | 3 years |
| Primary caregiver | 5 years | 18 weeks | 3 years |
| Partner leave | 12 months | 1 week | 3 years |
| Partner leave | 5 years | 2 weeks | 3 years |
| Pre-natal leave | All members | 8 hours a pregnancy | 8 hours |
At Constable First Class 10, 14 weeks of paid leave is worth about $27,898 and 18 weeks about $35,869 at base salary (our calculation). The agreement also covers adoption, permanent care orders, no-safe-job leave and pre-adoption leave.
What other paid leave can NT Police take?
- ✓ Defence service leave: up to 4 weeks a financial year at full pay (cl 48)
- ✓ Kinship obligation leave: up to 5 days or shifts paid for First Nations members (cl 49)
- ✓ Gender transition leave: 4 weeks paid and up to 48 weeks unpaid (cl 50)
- ✓ NAIDOC week leave (cl 51)
- ✓ Health screening leave: up to 1 hour a year (cl 52)
- ✓ Domestic, family and sexual violence leave (cl 53)
- ✓ Foster and kinship carer placement leave: up to 10 days paid a year (cl 54)
- ✓ Compassionate leave (cl 47) and blood donor leave (cl 55)
Special leave with pay can also be granted by the Commissioner, and career breaks are possible as leave without pay (cl 35).
How does NT Police leave compare?
The NT's seven-week table, remote bonus weeks and up to six weeks of purchased leave give it more time off than SA, Tasmania or the AFP. Its parental leave is less generous than the AFP's or Tasmania's for newer officers.
NT Police
- Annual leave
- 7 weeks (6-week table exists)
- Long service leave
- 4 months at 10 years
- Guide
- This page
SA Police
- Annual leave
- 6 weeks (240 hours)
- Long service leave
- Accrual in Police Regulations
- Guide
- SA Police leave
Tasmania Police
- Annual leave
- 228 hours, shift officers
- Long service leave
- From 10 years, hours formula
- Guide
- Tasmania Police leave
AFP
- Annual leave
- 228 hours (6 weeks)
- Long service leave
- 3 months at 10 years
- Guide
- AFP leave
| Force | Annual leave | Long service leave | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT Police | 7 weeks (6-week table exists) | 4 months at 10 years | This page |
| SA Police | 6 weeks (240 hours) | Accrual in Police Regulations | SA Police leave |
| Tasmania Police | 228 hours, shift officers | From 10 years, hours formula | Tasmania Police leave |
| AFP | 228 hours (6 weeks) | 3 months at 10 years | AFP leave |
For all eight forces side by side, see police leave entitlements in Australia. If you're weighing a move to the Territory, our interstate transfer guide covers what happens to your leave and service.
Free email alerts
Changes to NT Police leave and conditions
The 2025 Consent Agreement text still isn't public. When it is, or when NTPFES confirms how the six- and seven-week tables work, we'll update this guide and email you what changed.
- ✓The 2025 agreement's leave clauses when published
- ✓Pay rise dates, including August 2027
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do NT Police get?
The main NT Police salary table is labelled 'Seven weeks leave', and NTPFES confirms that Police Public Safety Officers get 7 weeks (280 hours) a year. There is also a 'Six Weeks Leave' table with higher salaries. We haven't been able to read the 2011 determination that sets the base entitlement, so confirm yours with NTPFES.
Why does NT Police have a six weeks leave pay table?
The 2022 Consent Agreement has two salary tables: one for 'Seven weeks leave' and one for 'Six Weeks Leave', with the six-week rates about 3% higher. The obvious reading is that members on six weeks' leave are paid more in exchange for one fewer week, but how a member ends up on either table isn't stated in the parts we've read. Ask NTPFES or the NTPA.
Do NT Police get extra leave at remote stations?
Yes. Under clause 57 of the 2022 Consent Agreement, Group A localities and Tennant Creek earn an extra week at 24 months and another at 36 months and every 12 months after. Group B earns an extra week for every 12 months. Katherine earns an extra week after 3 years, then one each further 12 months (cl 39).
How much long service leave do NT Police get?
Four calendar months of paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous service, then 12 calendar days for each further year (Consent Agreement 2022 cl 42). If you resign after 7, 8 or 9 years you get a pro-rata payment of 22.5, 45 or 67.5 calendar days. You must normally use each entitlement within 3 years.
Can NT Police buy extra leave?
Yes. After 12 months' continuous service you can apply to purchase between one and six extra weeks a year, paid for by deductions from your fortnightly salary over 12 months (cl 41). You must use it within 6 months after the payments finish, in blocks of at least one week, and exhaust your recreation leave first.
Can NT Police cash out annual leave?
Yes. You can ask to cash up recreation leave as long as you keep at least four weeks accrued, each cash-up is agreed in writing with the Commissioner, and you're paid at least what you would have got for taking the leave (Consent Agreement 2022 cl 38).
How much parental leave do NT Police get?
A primary caregiver gets 14 weeks' paid leave after 12 months' service (pro rata from 39 weeks) and 18 weeks after 5 years, with up to 3 years of leave in total. A partner gets 1 week paid after 12 months and 2 weeks after 5 years (Consent Agreement 2022 cl 36).
When do NT Police have to book their leave?
Recreation and long service leave for the next calendar year is set down between October and December and published in the Police Gazette in January (cl 34(f)). If you don't nominate dates by the end of December, your manager sets them after consulting you. You can ask to change gazetted leave later with reasonable notice.
Evidence
Sources and how we checked them
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 9 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.
- Northern Territory Police Force Consent Agreement 2022 (NTPA copy) — cl 34 (leave management), 36 (parental), 37–41 (recreation, cash-up, Katherine, purchased), 42–44 (LSL), 45 (personal), 47–55, 57 (isolated localities), Attachment A cl 7–8 (pay tables)
- NTPFES: Police Public Safety Officers — 7 weeks (280 hours) recreation leave and 20 days personal leave for PPSOs
- NTPFES: Constable recruitment page — current Constable 1 salary
- Inside State Government: Record pay deal for NT Police — 2025 Consent Agreement increases; agreement text not public
Related guides
Serving officers
More in this series
General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.