PM worried by WA public sector job cuts

    The Australian.
    June 13, 2013





PM Julia Gillard is concerned about the public sector job cuts announced by the WA government. Source: AAP

THE loss of more than 1000 jobs from Western Australia's public sector follows a national pattern of Liberal government job cuts, according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.    

Jobs are set to be lost in West Australian schools, hospitals and police stations, as Premier Colin Barnett announced that voluntary and involuntary redundancies could save up $2 billion in the next four years.

Plunging resources royalties, a reduced GST share and rising state debt has prompted the re-elected Liberal government to slash government advertising and spending on consultants, followed by Thursday's job cuts.

Speaking in Perth, Ms Gillard said she felt for the families of those affected.

"I'm very concerned about what that means for those working people and their families," Ms Gillard said.

"It follows a pattern right around the country where state Liberal governments have cut jobs.    


"We take a different approach. We want to see jobs around our nation. We will continue to focus on economic growth and jobs."

Department heads have been ordered to find at least 1000 voluntary redundancies in the next financial year, while legislation will be brought in before Christmas to allow WA public sector employees to be sacked for the first time.      

The job cuts will cost $100 million, as redundancy packages are beefed up, but will save more than $75 million a year, and up to $2 billion by 2016/17, according to Treasurer Troy Buswell.

Mr Barnett said he expected some of those job losses would come in health, education and policing, but did not expect a big impact on front line services.

"There will be some people that decide they wish to leave the profession, there will be some teachers that want to leave - but the focus will be on administrative areas, not the front line services," Mr Barnett said.

But Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the announcement was hypocritical after Barnett staffers were given pay rises of up to 52 per cent after the March 9 election.

"This premier is setting the worst example I have ever seen," Mr McGowan said.      

Toni Walkington, branch secretary of WA's public sector union, said reduction in service quality was inevitable.

"Front line services such as child protection, offender management and crime prevention will be further run down," Ms Walkington said.

Yes it follows a pattern of Labor Governments overspending and not managing the public service competently.

Well the Gillard Govt has succeeded in justabout killing off the manufacturing and mining industries.

Ford, Target just a tip of the ice berg.

..Again a direct result of a previous incompetent and overspending Labor state government

Build more Centrelink offices.      

Swagman wrote on Jun 13^th, 2013 at 9:51pm:


The WA State Liberal Govwernment was left with a budget surplus and no debt.....It has taken over 4 years for the Liberals to do nothing and run the budget into deficit.....How do you justify this???