Queensland Police Pilot’s Shocking Claim of ‘$183k Salary Not Enough’ to Support Family EXPOSED as Desperate Bid for $53k Payout
- A police helicopter pilot who quit his job with a $183,000 salary has been denied a $53,500 payout for long service leave.
- Sacha Bruce Gimenez claimed he couldn’t support his family on his lucrative salary, but the Industrial Commissioner found his resignation was driven by dissatisfaction with employment conditions.
- The Commissioner ruled that Gimenez’s “financial aspirations” did not qualify as a “domestic necessity” under the Industrial Relations Act.
A Queensland Police pilot who sensationally claimed his $183,000 salary was not enough to support his family has been dealt a devastating blow after being denied a $53,500 payout for long service leave.
Sacha Bruce Gimenez, who flew rotary-wing aircraft for the Queensland Police Service (QPS) since 2016, quit his job in September 2024 after eight years of service. He applied for a proportionate payment of his long service leave, arguing that his decision to resign was prompted by “domestic necessity” and that he was entitled to pro-rata long service leave.
However, the Industrial Commissioner, Dwyer, found that Gimenez’s resignation was not driven by a “domestic necessity” but rather by his dissatisfaction with his wages and employment conditions. The Commissioner ruled that Gimenez’s “financial aspirations, without evidence of necessity arising from domestic circumstances, are not sufficient” to qualify for the payout.
Gimenez had claimed that his salary, fatigue management restrictions, and denied overtime opportunities prevented him from earning enough to support his family. He also referenced workplace grievances and a “progressively worsening” culture at QPS. However, the Commissioner found that Gimenez did not provide an itemised list of household costs and that his reasoning was an attempt to “reconstruct the narrative around his resignation to rationalise an entitlement”.
In a damning assessment, the Commissioner concluded that Gimenez had simply sought better pay, which does not qualify under the law. The decision is a major blow to Gimenez, who will now have to navigate his financial situation without the expected payout.
The case has sparked a heated debate about the challenges faced by police officers and their families, with many calling for better pay and conditions. However, the Commissioner’s ruling has made it clear that “financial aspirations” alone are not enough to qualify for a payout under the Industrial Relations Act.