What does each force offer for remote and country service?
No two forces pay for remoteness the same way. Some pay cash, some pay a loading in place of overtime, and some mostly pay in housing.
Before comparing headline numbers, check what kind of payment you're looking at. A cash incentive (NSW, Queensland's RLIP) comes on top of everything else. A loading (Tasmania's 37%, SA's 45%) usually replaces overtime, call-back and shift penalties, so it's partly pay for hours you'll work anyway. And housing can be worth more than any allowance once you know what rent costs in the town.
- Cash and loadings
- Cash incentive: $36,000 over 5 years (Remote), $31,000 (Special Remote), $19,000 (Lord Howe Island)
- Housing
- Police housing at 3% of salary in rent; remote area living allowance up to $4,584 a year
- Other
- Shorter tenure at some stations; preferential transfer after Special Remote
- Cash and loadings
- Area Allowance $13,906 a year (13 communities); RLIP $4,000–$7,000 a year
- Housing
- Housing levels not in the agreement; Locality Allowance rates on the intranet only
- Other
- Extra pay points at hard-to-fill stations; district of choice after tenure
- Cash and loadings
- Regional attraction payment (amount not published); district allowance (public-sector scheme)
- Housing
- Free housing in 56 Schedule G towns; $600 country lodging allowance where no quarters
- Other
- Extra leave, travel concessions and relocation costs
- Cash and loadings
- 35% one/two-person station loading; 45% remote loading (APY, Yalata, Oodnadatta); lifestyle payments
- Housing
- Rent-free or 70% subsidised housing (Level 1); rent-free (Level 2)
- Other
- Guaranteed posting after tenure
- Cash and loadings
- 37% country station allowance, paid on at least Constable Level 6
- Housing
- Rent-free departmental residence
- Other
- Isolated community allowances up to $11,623 a year; Bass Strait leave fares
- Cash and loadings
- CRIA (5–18% depending on location and year); higher GPA at isolated localities
- Housing
- Free housing or $33,184 a year housing allowance
- Other
- Airfares out (FOILS), free electricity, posting of choice after 2 years elsewhere
- Cash and loadings
- Remote Allowance $1,481 a year at listed stations; One Member Station Allowance $14,157
- Housing
- Remote-area salary packaging mentioned by the force; no detail published
- Other
- 2-year minimum for country-placed probationers
- Cash and loadings
- Up to $45,000 Remote Defence Capability Payment + $10,970 Remote Localities Allowance
- Housing
- Not stated on the recruiting page
- Other
- Advertised Exmouth / Pine Gap package $138,470
| Force | Cash and loadings | Housing | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Police | Cash incentive: $36,000 over 5 years (Remote), $31,000 (Special Remote), $19,000 (Lord Howe Island) | Police housing at 3% of salary in rent; remote area living allowance up to $4,584 a year | Shorter tenure at some stations; preferential transfer after Special Remote |
| QPS | Area Allowance $13,906 a year (13 communities); RLIP $4,000–$7,000 a year | Housing levels not in the agreement; Locality Allowance rates on the intranet only | Extra pay points at hard-to-fill stations; district of choice after tenure |
| WA Police | Regional attraction payment (amount not published); district allowance (public-sector scheme) | Free housing in 56 Schedule G towns; $600 country lodging allowance where no quarters | Extra leave, travel concessions and relocation costs |
| SAPOL | 35% one/two-person station loading; 45% remote loading (APY, Yalata, Oodnadatta); lifestyle payments | Rent-free or 70% subsidised housing (Level 1); rent-free (Level 2) | Guaranteed posting after tenure |
| Tasmania Police | 37% country station allowance, paid on at least Constable Level 6 | Rent-free departmental residence | Isolated community allowances up to $11,623 a year; Bass Strait leave fares |
| NT Police | CRIA (5–18% depending on location and year); higher GPA at isolated localities | Free housing or $33,184 a year housing allowance | Airfares out (FOILS), free electricity, posting of choice after 2 years elsewhere |
| Victoria Police | Remote Allowance $1,481 a year at listed stations; One Member Station Allowance $14,157 | Remote-area salary packaging mentioned by the force; no detail published | 2-year minimum for country-placed probationers |
| AFP (PSOs) | Up to $45,000 Remote Defence Capability Payment + $10,970 Remote Localities Allowance | Not stated on the recruiting page | Advertised Exmouth / Pine Gap package $138,470 |
SA dollar figures are the 1 January 2024 rates in the 2021 agreement; a new SA agreement with better regional incentives was proposed in September 2026 but its figures aren't public. Queensland's Area Allowance is QPS's official CPI-uplifted rate from 1 July 2026; RLIP amounts are flat and not indexed.
The rest of this guide takes each force in turn, then works through what the main packages add to take-home pay. If you're weighing a move between states for a country posting, our interstate transfer guide covers recognised service and relocation money.
NSW: the five-year remote incentive, housing and living allowance
NSW pays the biggest cash incentive, but it is a five-year total, not an annual figure.
From 1 July 2023 NSW Police Force replaced its older remote scheme with cash payments for officers attached to Remote, Special Remote and remote offshore (Lord Howe Island) locations. Stations PANSW names under the scheme include Cobar, Lightning Ridge, Brewarrina, Tibooburra, Ivanhoe, Coonamble, Nyngan and Wee Waa.
It's $36,000 over five years
You'll see "$36,000 a year" in some summaries. PANSW's published breakdown shows $36,000 is the total for a Remote location across five years: a $3,000 annual incentive plus a retention bonus that changes each year. Special Remote is $31,000 over five years ($6,000 in each of the first three years) and Lord Howe Island $19,000.
Year 1
- Payment
- $8,000
Year 2
- Payment
- $7,000
Year 3
- Payment
- $7,000
Year 4
- Payment
- $8,000
Year 5
- Payment
- $6,000
Five-year total
- Payment
- $36,000
| Year at the location | Payment |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,000 |
| Year 2 | $7,000 |
| Year 3 | $7,000 |
| Year 4 | $8,000 |
| Year 5 | $6,000 |
| Five-year total | $36,000 |
Housing and other support
At specific regional locations NSW Police provides housing for rent of 3% of your salary a year, which is rent you pay, not money you receive. PANSW adds that officers in a single unit or LUK get 25% of electricity reimbursed. Tenure was also cut at some stations, for example Cobar and Lightning Ridge from four years to three, and Brewarrina from three to two.
Remote area living allowance (the award)
Separately from the incentive, the award pays a remote area living allowance by grade, with a higher rate if you have dependants. This is a long-standing award entitlement, set out in clause 12.
Grade A
- With dependants
- $2,588
- Without dependants
- $1,808
- Example locations
- Listed in the award (cl 12)
Grade B
- With dependants
- $3,433
- Without dependants
- $2,325
- Example locations
- e.g. Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Wilcannia
Grade C
- With dependants
- $4,584
- Without dependants
- $3,211
- Example locations
- e.g. Tibooburra, Lord Howe Island
| Grade | With dependants | Without dependants | Example locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | $2,588 | $1,808 | Listed in the award (cl 12) |
| Grade B | $3,433 | $2,325 | e.g. Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Wilcannia |
| Grade C | $4,584 | $3,211 | e.g. Tibooburra, Lord Howe Island |
Probationary constables can also nominate a regional location through "Be a Cop in your Home Town". For the full NSW pay scale the incentive sits on top of, see the NSW Police salary guide.
Queensland: Area Allowance, RLIP and hard-to-fill pay points
The Area Allowance is Queensland's largest remote payment: $13,906 a year from 1 July 2026 (QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment rate) for officers living and working in Aurukun, Bamaga, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Pormpuraaw, Yarrabah, Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Palm Island, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Wujal Wujal or Hope Vale. Relief officers get it from their seventh week.
RLIP year 1
$4,000
paid annually in arrears
RLIP year 2
$5,000
not indexed
RLIP year 3+
$7,000
a year from then on
The Rural Locality Incentive Payment (Schedule 5) applies at a longer list of rural stations, including Longreach, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Weipa, Thursday Island, Winton and the Mt Isa District where Area Allowance doesn't apply. Dunwich, Russell Island, Macleay Island and K'gari get 50%. RLIP is taxed under PAYG and you can't receive it with the Area Allowance.
Small stations and hard-to-fill locations
Officers at one- and two-officer stations get a 36.5% allowance on their pay point instead of overtime, on-call, most shift penalties and leave loading. Under clause 90.4, a non-commissioned officer who finishes tenure at a designated hard-to-fill location and agrees in writing to stay two more years gets one extra pay point after 12 months and another after 24 (lost if you leave early). Officers at designated rural and remote locations can name a district of choice for their next lateral transfer.
Locality Allowance and housing
The agreement also has a Locality Allowance under a public-sector ministerial directive, but QPS publishes the centre list and rates only on its intranet. Rent and housing subsidies aren't in the agreement either; ask your district or the QPU.
WA: free housing in Schedule G towns, district allowance and attraction payments
WA's strongest incentive is housing. Under clause 17.14 of the 2024 agreement, officers stationed in the 56 Schedule G towns get fully subsidised housing, and country officers in charge are provided accommodation. The towns include Port Hedland, South Hedland, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham, Laverton, Leonora, Meekatharra and Norseman.
District allowance
Police are paid district allowance under the same scheme as WA public servants (clause 19.1), but neither the agreement nor the recruiting site lists police dollar amounts. The CPSU/CSA reported improved public-sector rates from 1 July 2026, including Grade 6 at $12,020 a year for places such as Fitzroy Crossing, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Wyndham. Those rates were pending registration, and we haven't confirmed that they flow to police.
Country lodging allowance
- Amount
- $600 a year
- Who
- Country officers where no quarters are provided (cl 17.3(b))
Country deployment allowance
- Amount
- $20 a day, maximum $100 a week
- Who
- Officers deployed to the country (cl 17.12)
Special locality allowance
- Amount
- Set with the union; not published
- Who
- Towns south of the 26th parallel with remote complexities (cl 17.4)
Regional attraction payment
- Amount
- One-off, taxed; amount not published
- Who
- Regional postings, higher for hard-to-fill locations; minimum stay
| Payment | Amount | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Country lodging allowance | $600 a year | Country officers where no quarters are provided (cl 17.3(b)) |
| Country deployment allowance | $20 a day, maximum $100 a week | Officers deployed to the country (cl 17.12) |
| Special locality allowance | Set with the union; not published | Towns south of the 26th parallel with remote complexities (cl 17.4) |
| Regional attraction payment | One-off, taxed; amount not published | Regional postings, higher for hard-to-fill locations; minimum stay |
The recruiting site also lists extra annual leave, annual leave travel concessions, remote community leave, subsidised or free GROH housing in some places (not Bunbury or Australind), an air-conditioning subsidy and relocation and storage costs. It warns that not every location gets every incentive.
SA: Hard to Fill levels, the 35% and 45% loadings
SAPOL's scheme is tiered by location, and the loadings replace overtime and on-call.
At one- and two-person country stations and small country CIBs, SAPOL pays a 35% allowance on base salary that includes on-call and recall. At the most remote stations, the APY Lands, Yalata Lands and Oodnadatta, the loading is 45%, paid instead of penalties, overtime, on-call and recall.
Level 1
- Where
- Ceduna, Marla, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Peterborough, Leigh Creek and other gazetted stations (max 4 years)
- What you get
- Lifestyle payment $3,334; rent-free or 70% subsidised housing; storage up to $3,896 a year; utility reconnection and TV/internet help; guaranteed metropolitan posting after tenure
Level 2
- Where
- APY Lands, Yalata, Oodnadatta
- What you get
- 45% loading; lifestyle payment $7,902; remote allowance up to $4,892 a year; rent-free housing; utilities and food freight help; 5 extra days' leave; monthly respite flight (APY); guaranteed posting after
Level 3
- Where
- Gazetted larger country stations
- What you get
- An attraction and retention payment for the minimum tenure (the figure in the scanned agreement is unclear); guaranteed posting after
| Level | Where | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Ceduna, Marla, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Peterborough, Leigh Creek and other gazetted stations (max 4 years) | Lifestyle payment $3,334; rent-free or 70% subsidised housing; storage up to $3,896 a year; utility reconnection and TV/internet help; guaranteed metropolitan posting after tenure |
| Level 2 | APY Lands, Yalata, Oodnadatta | 45% loading; lifestyle payment $7,902; remote allowance up to $4,892 a year; rent-free housing; utilities and food freight help; 5 extra days' leave; monthly respite flight (APY); guaranteed posting after |
| Level 3 | Gazetted larger country stations | An attraction and retention payment for the minimum tenure (the figure in the scanned agreement is unclear); guaranteed posting after |
Officers on country relief get $172 a week, and country and interstate recruits get a $4,531 cost-of-living allowance on starting at the Academy. SAPOL's proposed new agreement (September 2026) promises enhanced regional and remote incentives, including Level 3 incentives for Coober Pedy, but the amounts weren't public when we checked. See the SA pay deal tracker for where it stands.
Tasmania: the 37% country station allowance and a rent-free house
Tasmania's country package is simple and generous. Constables and Sergeants at designated country stations get 37% of normal salary, in place of availability, call-back, overtime, shift and meal allowances. A Constable at a designated station is paid at least Constable Level 6 (cl 9.3.5), and you get a rent-free departmental residence.
Designated stations include Nubeena, Dunalley, Orford, Triabunna, Swansea, Bicheno, Oatlands, Liawenee, Bothwell, Kempton, Maydena, Hamilton, Bushy Park, St Marys, Fingal, Dover, Geeveston, Cygnet, Woodbridge, Rosebery, Zeehan, Waratah, Strahan, Alonnah.
Isolated: islands and Alonnah
$11,623
a year: Currie, Lady Barron, Whitemark, Alonnah
Isolated: west coast and Liawenee
$7,988
a year: Queenstown, Strahan, Zeehan and others
Community assistance
$3,633
a year at 37 listed rural stations
Members stationed on the Bass Strait islands also get three return fares a year to mainland Tasmania for themselves and dependants, after three months there. Transfer costs are covered under clause 11 of the award (removal costs, a displacement allowance and other assistance).
In Tasmania a first-year constable posted to a designated country station is paid as a Level 6 constable, plus 37%, plus a free house.
NT: free housing or a housing allowance, CRIA and fares out
Almost all NT policing is regional, so the Territory's package starts with housing. Constables and Aboriginal Community Police Officers get barracks, free departmental housing or, if they arrange their own accommodation, a $33,184 a year housing allowance, which is taxable and paid fortnightly. NTPA says the 2025 agreement kept existing housing entitlements.
Special Category (Jabiru, Adelaide River, Batchelor)
- Year 1
- 5%
- Year 2
- 5%
- Year 3
- 5%
Group A
- Year 1
- 5%
- Year 2
- 5%
- Year 3
- 5%
Group B
- Year 1
- 6%
- Year 2
- 12%
- Year 3
- 12%
Tennant Creek
- Year 1
- 11%
- Year 2
- 18%
- Year 3
- 18%
| Location group | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Category (Jabiru, Adelaide River, Batchelor) | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Group A | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Group B | 6% | 12% | 12% |
| Tennant Creek | 11% | 18% | 18% |
CRIA replaces older locality bonuses and TV, internet and freight allowances. The salary base it's calculated on isn't stated in the text we read, and we don't know whether the 2025 agreement changed these rates.
Operational members also get the 23% Consolidated Allowance and the 5% General Policing Allowance wherever they serve. At isolated localities the GPA is higher (Group A and B 12% for permanent postings, as we read the scanned agreement), and Tennant Creek adds a 7% special location allowance.
Other NT remote entitlements
- ✓ Fares Out of Isolated Localities (FOILS): an economy airfare to a prescribed destination after 3 months' service, no more than every 3 months
- ✓ Free electricity, two gas bottles a year and annual pest control in agency housing at isolated localities
- ✓ Barge freight reimbursement of $500 a year (single) or $1,000 (with dependants) at barge-serviced communities
- ✓ Up to $20,000 relocation assistance for new recruits, on receipts
- ✓ A posting of choice in Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs after two years' service elsewhere (cl 60)
Victoria and the AFP: smaller allowances, bigger PSO packages
Victoria Police
Victoria has fewer remote stations and a modest Remote Allowance of $1,481 a year (clause 103), paid only at listed stations such as Mallacoota, Omeo, Orbost, Ouyen, Robinvale and Warracknabeal. Members at one-member stations get a One Member Station Allowance of $14,157 a year (with Operational Readiness) instead of overtime within the response zone.
A Living Away From Home Allowance of $424.37 a week (from 1 Jun 2026) applies when you live away from a dependant on starting or transfer. Probationary constables placed in the country serve a two-year minimum in position. We found no cash sign-on bonus for country placement.
All Victorian Remote Allowance stations
Apsley, Bendoc, Beulah, Birchip, Buchan, Cann River, Corryong, Culgoa, Dimboola, Edenhope, Goroke, Harrow, Hopetoun, Jeparit, Kaniva, Mallacoota, Manangatang, Murrayville, Nhill, Omeo, Orbost, Ouyen, Piangil, Rainbow, Robinvale, Sea Lake, Speed, Swifts Creek, Underbool, Walwa, Warracknabeal, Woods Point, Woomelang
AFP Protective Service Officers
The AFP's remote packages are for PSOs guarding Defence sites. At Exmouth (WA) and Pine Gap (NT) the AFP advertises $138,470 a year: base with the 22% composite, a $45,000 Remote Defence Capability Payment, a $10,970 Remote Localities Allowance and the Use of Force allowance. At Geraldton the payments are $16,500 and $3,708, for an advertised $102,708.
The Remote Localities Allowance is set by the Commissioner, not the enterprise agreement, and is taxable. Amounts for Jervis Bay, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands aren't published. See AFP pay for the full band structure.
What does a remote posting add to your take-home pay?
Gross figures from the data files; tax at 2026-27 ATO resident rates with the Medicare levy, no HELP debt. Calculated by us.
NSW Senior Constable L3 (incl. 11.5% loading), year 1 at a Remote station + Grade B living allowance
- Without
- $129,260
- With
- $140,693
- Difference
- +$11,433
Tasmania Constable L1: 24-hour station (28%) vs designated country station (L6 + 37%)
- Without
- $94,103
- With
- $117,519
- Difference
- +$23,416
SAPOL Senior Constable (Increment 1): Response roster (23%) vs APY Lands (45%)
- Without
- $126,678
- With
- $149,336
- Difference
- +$22,658
NT Constable 1 package, without vs with the housing allowance
- Without
- $111,366
- With
- $144,550
- Difference
- +$33,184
QPS Senior Constable 2.5 on OSA, without vs with Area Allowance
- Without
- $127,924
- With
- $141,830
- Difference
- +$13,906
AFP PSO: standard package vs advertised Exmouth / Pine Gap package
- Without
- $82,500
- With
- $138,470
- Difference
- +$55,970
| Example | Without | With | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Senior Constable L3 (incl. 11.5% loading), year 1 at a Remote station + Grade B living allowance | $129,260 | $140,693 | +$11,433 |
| Tasmania Constable L1: 24-hour station (28%) vs designated country station (L6 + 37%) | $94,103 | $117,519 | +$23,416 |
| SAPOL Senior Constable (Increment 1): Response roster (23%) vs APY Lands (45%) | $126,678 | $149,336 | +$22,658 |
| NT Constable 1 package, without vs with the housing allowance | $111,366 | $144,550 | +$33,184 |
| QPS Senior Constable 2.5 on OSA, without vs with Area Allowance | $127,924 | $141,830 | +$13,906 |
| AFP PSO: standard package vs advertised Exmouth / Pine Gap package | $82,500 | $138,470 | +$55,970 |
NSW Senior Constable, Remote year 1
- Take-home without
- $97,377
- Take-home with
- $104,753
- Extra in your pocket
- +$7,376
Tasmania Constable, country station
- Take-home without
- $73,470
- Take-home with
- $89,393
- Extra in your pocket
- +$15,923
SAPOL Senior Constable, APY Lands
- Take-home without
- $95,621
- Take-home with
- $110,025
- Extra in your pocket
- +$14,404
NT Constable 1, housing allowance
- Take-home without
- $85,209
- Take-home with
- $107,106
- Extra in your pocket
- +$21,897
QPS Senior Constable, Area Allowance
- Take-home without
- $96,468
- Take-home with
- $105,446
- Extra in your pocket
- +$8,978
AFP PSO, Exmouth / Pine Gap
- Take-home without
- $65,580
- Take-home with
- $103,397
- Extra in your pocket
- +$37,817
| Example | Take-home without | Take-home with | Extra in your pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Senior Constable, Remote year 1 | $97,377 | $104,753 | +$7,376 |
| Tasmania Constable, country station | $73,470 | $89,393 | +$15,923 |
| SAPOL Senior Constable, APY Lands | $95,621 | $110,025 | +$14,404 |
| NT Constable 1, housing allowance | $85,209 | $107,106 | +$21,897 |
| QPS Senior Constable, Area Allowance | $96,468 | $105,446 | +$8,978 |
| AFP PSO, Exmouth / Pine Gap | $65,580 | $103,397 | +$37,817 |
A few things these numbers show. Tasmania's country station is worth $23,416 more in gross pay for a first-year constable, mostly because the award lifts you to Level 6. SA's 45% loading looks like $22,658 more than the Response roster, but it replaces all overtime and on-call, so in a busy metro team the gap can be smaller.
The NT housing allowance adds about $21,897 after tax, because it's taxed at your marginal rate. Free departmental housing instead isn't in your payslip at all, so in a high-rent town it can be worth more than the allowance. These examples exclude one-off payments such as SA's lifestyle payments and the value of free housing.
Work out your own remote package after tax
Enter your force, pay point and the allowance you'd get at the new station to see your take-home pay, and compare it with what you earn now.
How are remote allowances and police housing taxed?
General information only. Speak to the ATO or a registered tax agent about your situation.
Cash payments are generally income. Loadings, allowances and incentive payments come through payroll with PAYG tax withheld: Queensland's agreement says RLIP is taxed under PAYG, the NT describes its housing allowance as taxable, and WA describes its attraction payment as a taxed payment.
Housing your employer provides is treated differently from a cash housing allowance. The ATO's remote area FBT concessions say employer-provided accommodation can be exempt from fringe benefits tax when your usual place of work and residence is in a remote area and it's reasonable for the employer to provide housing (for example, because there isn't enough suitable housing nearby or it's customary in the industry).
Check the zone tax offset
If your usual place of residence is in a remote zone listed by the ATO for 183 days or more in the income year, you may be able to claim the zone tax offset in your tax return. Which zone a station falls in, and the amount, are set by the ATO, so check its zone list for your town.
Salary packaging is another lever. Victoria Police mentions remote-area salary packaging on its recruitment pages without publishing details, so ask payroll what applies at your new station before you sign the transfer.
Is a remote or country posting worth it for you?
The money is real, but it's only part of the decision. Remote stations can mean fewer backup options, long distances to specialists and schools, and a community where you're always the police officer. The forces offering the most are, in effect, paying for that.
Works in your favour
- ✓Cash incentives or loadings worth thousands a year on top of base pay
- ✓Free or cheap housing in several forces, which lets you save quickly
- ✓Broad, hands-on policing experience early in your career
- ✓Guaranteed or preferred postings afterwards in NSW, SA, QLD and the NT
- ✓Shorter minimum tenure at some NSW stations
Watch out for
- ✕Loadings in SA and Tasmania replace overtime, on-call and call-back
- ✕Partner employment, schooling and healthcare can be harder
- ✕Some payments are one-off or end after a set number of years
- ✕Some amounts (WA attraction, QLD locality) aren't published
- ✕Leaving early can cost you incentives such as QLD hard-to-fill pay points
Questions to ask before you accept a country posting
- ✓ Is the station on the current incentive list, and at what level or grade?
- ✓ Is my incentive paid yearly, as a lump sum, or only after I complete tenure?
- ✓ What happens to the payments if I leave early or get promoted out?
- ✓ Is housing provided, and what rent (if any) will I pay?
- ✓ Does the loading replace overtime, and how much overtime does the station actually work?
- ✓ What transfer or posting guarantee do I get at the end, and is it in writing?
- ✓ What leave, airfares or respite travel come with the posting?
Your association can confirm how the rules apply to a particular station. Our police associations guide lists each one. If you're still a recruit, compare base pay across forces first: the incentive sits on top of that.
What isn't published yet, and who can confirm it
Several country payments are set outside the agreements or on internal sites, so we can't publish a figure. Here's what's missing and who to ask.
NSW: which stations are Remote vs Special Remote today (classifications have changed since 2023)
- Who can confirm
- NSW Police Force regional incentives team or PANSW
Queensland: Locality Allowance rates and centre list; police housing rent
- Who can confirm
- QPS (intranet) or the QPU
WA: regional attraction payment amounts; whether the 1 July 2026 district allowance rates apply to police
- Who can confirm
- WA Police Force HR or WAPU
SA: current Hard to Fill amounts after 2024 and the new incentives in the proposed agreement
- Who can confirm
- SAPOL or PASA
NT: current CRIA rates and isolated GPA rates under the 2025 agreement
- Who can confirm
- NTPA or the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
AFP: Remote Localities Allowance at Jervis Bay, Norfolk, Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Who can confirm
- AFP recruitment or AFPA
| Gap | Who can confirm |
|---|---|
| NSW: which stations are Remote vs Special Remote today (classifications have changed since 2023) | NSW Police Force regional incentives team or PANSW |
| Queensland: Locality Allowance rates and centre list; police housing rent | QPS (intranet) or the QPU |
| WA: regional attraction payment amounts; whether the 1 July 2026 district allowance rates apply to police | WA Police Force HR or WAPU |
| SA: current Hard to Fill amounts after 2024 and the new incentives in the proposed agreement | SAPOL or PASA |
| NT: current CRIA rates and isolated GPA rates under the 2025 agreement | NTPA or the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment |
| AFP: Remote Localities Allowance at Jervis Bay, Norfolk, Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands | AFP recruitment or AFPA |
Free email alerts
Get told when a remote incentive changes
SA's proposed agreement promises better regional incentives and WA's district allowance is being re-rated. We'll email you when the new figures are published, with what they add after tax.
- ✓New country and remote rates the day they're confirmed
- ✓Take-home impact worked out for you
Frequently asked questions
How much do NSW Police get for working in a remote location?
Under the scheme that started in July 2023, an officer at a Remote location gets $36,000 in total over five years ($8,000 in year one). Special Remote locations pay $31,000 over five years and Lord Howe Island $19,000. Police housing is available at 3% of salary in rent, and the award's remote area living allowance is paid on top.
Is the NSW remote incentive $36,000 a year?
No. PANSW's breakdown shows $36,000 is the total over five years, made up of a $3,000 annual incentive plus a retention bonus that varies by year. Some summaries read it as an annual figure. Year one is worth $8,000.
Do country police get free housing?
In several forces, yes. Tasmania gives a rent-free departmental residence at designated country stations, WA gives fully subsidised housing in 56 Schedule G towns, SA gives rent-free housing at its most remote stations, and the NT provides free departmental housing or a $33,184 allowance. NSW charges 3% of salary in rent at specific regional locations.
What is the Tasmania Police country station allowance?
Constables and Sergeants at designated country stations get 37% of normal salary, instead of overtime, call-back, availability, shift and meal allowances. A Constable there is paid at least Constable Level 6, and gets a rent-free departmental residence. Stations include Swansea, Bicheno, Oatlands, Strahan and Zeehan.
Is a remote area allowance taxable?
Cash allowances, loadings and incentive payments are generally taxed as income through your pay. Queensland's agreement says RLIP is taxed under PAYG, and the NT describes its housing allowance as taxable. Housing provided by the employer is different: remote area housing can be exempt from fringe benefits tax if the ATO's conditions are met. Check with the ATO or a registered tax agent.
What remote incentives does Queensland Police offer?
An Area Allowance of $13,906 a year (from 1 July 2026, QPS's official CPI-uplifted rate) in 13 communities including Aurukun, Palm Island and Mornington Island, and a Rural Locality Incentive Payment of $4,000, $5,000, then $7,000 a year at listed rural stations. Hard-to-fill locations can also earn extra pay points.
Can I choose where I go after a remote posting?
Often, yes. NSW gives Special Remote officers preferential transfer at the end of tenure, SA guarantees a posting after its Hard to Fill tenures, Queensland lets officers at designated rural and remote locations name a district of choice for their next lateral transfer, and the NT offers a posting of choice in Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs after two years elsewhere.
What do AFP Protective Service Officers earn at remote sites?
The AFP advertises a total package of $138,470 at Exmouth and Pine Gap, made up of the base salary with the 22% composite, a $45,000 Remote Defence Capability Payment, a $10,970 Remote Localities Allowance and the Use of Force allowance. Geraldton's package is lower.
Evidence
Sources and how we checked them
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 10 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.
- PANSW: Remote/Special Remote incentive payments (KA-01258) — year-by-year NSW incentive amounts, rent, tenure changes; read 9 October 2026
- NSW Police Force: Regional incentives — scheme from July 2023; Remote, Special Remote and Lord Howe Island totals
- NSW IRC: Crown Employees (Police Officers) Award variation, Industrial Gazette 28 Oct 2025 — remote area living allowance, cl 12 Table 6
- QIRC: Queensland Police Service Certified Agreement 2025 — Area Allowance cl 27, RLIP Schedule 5, cl 42, cl 90
- Queensland Police Service: CPI Uplift Adjustment (CUA) FAQ and visual aids, Tranche 3 — official uplifted Area Allowance rate, read 10 October 2026
- WAIRC: WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 (WES338) — district allowance cl 19.1, cl 17.3, 17.4, 17.12, 17.14
- Let's Join Forces (WA Police): Regional opportunities — regional attraction payment and other incentives
- CPSU/CSA: District allowance outcome (2 July 2026) — public-sector rates; police flow-on not confirmed
- SA Police Enterprise Agreement 2021 — cl 14.3, cl 40, Schedule 3 and 4
- SAPOL: Recruitment process — cost-of-living allowance for country and interstate recruits
- Tasmanian Industrial Commission: Police Award No. 2 of 2026 — country station allowance, isolated community allowances
- NT Police Force Consent Agreement 2022 — CRIA, isolated GPA, FOILS, cl 60 and 62
- NT PFES: Constable — housing allowance, Consolidated Allowance, relocation
- Victoria Police (Police Officers, PSOs and Reservists) Enterprise Agreement 2025 — Remote Allowance cl 103, One Member Station cl 187
- AFP: Remote PSO locations — Exmouth, Geraldton and Pine Gap packages; read 9 October 2026
- ATO: Remote area FBT concessions — conditions for exempt remote area housing
- ATO: Zone tax offset — eligibility for people living in remote zones
Related guides
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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.