“Current [union] members may not like to go to a job ... we may also see recruitment problems,” NSW Police Association Canobolas Branch chair Peter Foran said.

The family of an 18 to 44-year-old police officer who is killed on the job could get a lump sum payout of $550,000 from the government Mr Foran said, while the family of a 64-year-old police officer would receive just $62,000.

Mr Foran’s comments came in response to a planned strike by helicopter paramedics after their colleague Michael Wilson was killed on the job when he didn’t have private life insurance.

“They [police] are upholding the legislation of the day, they [the government] have a moral obligation to look after that widow,” he said.

It is the same situation for firefighters across NSW according to Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) country sub branch secretary Tim Anderson.

Mr Anderson said if a firefighter in their 30s was killed on the job their family would receive a government payout of around $300,000.

He said the premium for obtaining private life insurance is too expensive for many firefighters.

“I’ve tried to do it and found it very very difficult, the premium would be cost prohibitive,” he said.

nadine.morton@ruralpress.com