Queensland Police pilot who claimed $183k salary couldn’t support his family is denied $53k payout

A police helicopter pilot who quit his job claiming his $183,000 salary could not cover his family’s rising cost of living has failed to win a payout for long service leave.

Sacha Bruce Gimenez, who flew rotary-wing aircraft for the Queensland Police Service (QPS) since 2016, resigned in September 2024 after eight years on the job.

He had applied for a proportionate payment of his long service leave — about $53,500 — arguing his decision was prompted by “domestic necessity” and he was entitled to pro-rata long service leave.

Gimenez said 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.

QPS did not provide sworn evidence but argued Gimenez’s resignation was driven by dissatisfaction with employment conditions, not domestic need.

Industrial Commissioner Dwyer found there was no evidence of a “domestic necessity” — a requirement under the Industrial Relations Act to claim long service leave after resigning before 10 years of service.

“The real and motivating reason for Gimenez’s resignation was his dissatisfaction with his wages and employment conditions,” the Commissioner wrote in the September 24 ruling.

“Financial aspirations, without evidence of necessity arising from domestic circumstances, are not sufficient.”

Dwyer said Gimenez did not provide an itemised list of household costs, and his reasoning was an attempt to “reconstruct the narrative around his resignation to rationalise an entitlement”.

”The Commission concluded the pilot had simply sought better pay, which does not qualify under the law.”