Advertisement

Unions cautious on budget implications

The public service union is calling on its members to stay “vigilant” for future staff cuts as the Malinauskas Government looks to claw back millions in savings from public sector agencies.

Jun 03, 2022, updated Jun 03, 2022

Several key government departments have been targeted for savings in the Malinauskas Government’s first State Budget handed down on Thursday.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet has been asked to find $65 million in savings over the next four years, while Innovation and Skills has been told to stump up $21.1 million next financial year.

The Attorney General’s Department, Treasury, and the Environment Department have all also been asked to reduce their expenditure.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan says he has given agency CEOs latitude in deciding how to find savings measures.

In a memo to its members on Thursday, Public Service Association CEO Natasha Brown said the union was calling on members to “remain vigilant” in identifying where departments look for cuts.

“The Malinauskas Labor Government chose not to reverse cuts hanging over from the Marshall Liberal government, and instead opted to include $670m in additional public sector cuts over the next four years through the so-called ‘efficiency dividends’,” she said.

“The compounding effect of this year-on-year ‘efficiency dividend’ (which is just another term for job and service cuts) undermines the very services the public trust our government to provide to our community.

“The announcement of centrally funded targeted voluntary separation packages (TVSPs) is another loss for public services.

“The PSA does not support TVSPs as they not only cut ongoing roles, but result in real cuts to services.

“As part of our state’s economic recovery, the Government should have used this Budget as an opportunity for greater investment in public sector employment and direct investment in public sector delivery of the services our community needs and deserves.”

The teachers’ union has also had a lukewarm response to the State Budget, welcoming investments in new technical colleges and TAFE but expressing concern about “structural funding inequity” for public schools.

The Australian Education Union also said a $2m scholarship program to train teachers will be “found wanting in the urgent need to address the teacher shortage crisis”.

The AEU is set to commence enterprise bargaining negotiations in September.

The cautious union response comes after a row erupted between the union movement and the Malinauskas Government this week over planned reforms to workers’ compensation.

Local News Matters
Advertisement
Copyright © 2024 InDaily.
All rights reserved.