The New South Wales Government is slashing the benefits paid to police who are injured in the line of duty.

Police Minister Mike Gallacher says the death and disability scheme will be axed because it is unsustainable.

"By about next year the cost of the scheme would be equivalent to about 50 per cent of the salary of the entire New South Wales Police Force," Mr Gallacher said.

The Government hopes to save hundreds of millions of dollars by replacing the current system with a commercial income protection insurance scheme.

Pay-outs will be slashed by up to 85 per cent for officers with psychological injuries who are able to work elsewhere.

For officers with spinal injuries the compensation will be cut by 30 per cent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-03/force-fury-over-nsw-injury-compensation-shake-up/3616458?section=nsw

The NSW government has called for water prices to be increased, Finance Minister Greg Pearce says.

However, the government's submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Ipart) on Sydney Water's prices stressed the need to contain increases, Mr Pearce said today.

They have asked for those rises to be "properly justified and affordable for households", he said.

"The NSW Government's primary concern is the effect of rising utility prices on households across NSW," Mr Pearce said.

"When many households are finding it hard to make ends meet, rising power and water bills place additional pressure on household budgets and force families and those on fixed incomes to make difficult choices about their household expenditure.

The battle is heating up between the NSW Police Association and the State Government after Police Minister Michael Gallacher refused to release a report he has used to justify massive changes to the force.

Retired assistant commissioner Peter Parsons carried out an audit which has led to 21 recommendations on the allocation of police.

The union has described the changes as the biggest since the Wood Royal Commission and is frustrated it was not consulted during the audit.

"Our big concern is that the report and the data that's been used to make significant decisions have been withheld from our members," Association vice-president Pat Gooley said.

One of the recommendations which has already taken effect has seen the bulk of this year's graduates from the Police Academy sent to the state's regions.

Mr Gooley is worried that is the wrong move.

"If you flood an area with junior police, it's very difficult to train them. We've asked the Minister to reconsider and make a better mix of experienced and junior police," he said.

But Mr Gallacher says there is no cause for alarm. He says Commissioner Andrew Scipione will review the recommendations and report back by May.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-12/nsw-police-association-angered-by-force-changes/3726924