A permanent workforce is essential for the public sector to best serve the community and is a key Community and Public Sector Union submission to a national inquiry.

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The privatisation of essential government services does little to protect the privacy of thousands of WA residents according to the CSPU/CSA.

Union Branch Secretary Toni Walkington has again condemned the government for its privatisation stance in the wake of details of up to 10,000 motorists being handed over to Wilson Parking.

Ms Walkington said it was a major concern when the government had to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender the personal details so the private firm could track down unpaid parking fees.

She said it should serve as a serious reminder about vulnerability when the government choses to farm out essential services that the public expects them to maintain.

“It raises the issue of these companies having access to information they shouldn’t really be getting,” Ms Walkington said.

It also raises the issue of the public not being able to scrutinise the services provided by a private company as they could if the service was provided by the government.

“How do we know private companies will provide the same level of quality control that can be maintained by government.”

Download  Beware the pitfalls of privacy says union (225.04 kB)

The CPSU/CSA has condemned the Barnett Government's announcement today that multi-national company Serco will operate a new Young Adults Facility in Western Australia.

CPSU/CSA Secretary, Toni Walkington, says that the decision to outsource the new Young Adults facility will be disastrous for the state and put public safety at risk.

"Colin Barnett's Government says they care about Law & Order but they are outsourcing key parts of the justice system to private companies, said Ms Walkington.

"Private companies exist to make profits for their shareholders – they do not exist to keep the community safe. Over recent months serious doubts have been cast over multi-nationals and their management of prisons, detention centres and public services.

A recent comprehensive evaluation of public versus private management of a new facility shows there is no benefit to the state from outsourcing this facility.

If the State Government walks away from its responsibilities it will not be able to protect the community."

Ms Walkington said that a government that talks tough on Law & Order should not be outsourcing jobs in the justice system and putting public safety at risk.

Union says misleading OICS report shows Barnett Govt preparing to abandon justice to multinationals

The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) Report of an Announced Inspection of Acacia Prison, tabled in Parliament yesterday, exposes the Barnett Government’s intention to abandon its prison management responsibilities to multinational corporations.

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