Budget freeze will hit public services hard

The Liberal Party is going for short-term benefit at the cost of long-term services to the community with its freeze on public sector positions according to the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association.

Branch secretary Toni Walkington said today’s announcement by the Barnett Government to freeze jobs again and cap pay rises to a maximum of 2.5 per cent would have a major impact on services to thousands of West Australians every week.

“These are short-sighted arbitrary measures,” Ms Walkington said.

“If the government can’t manage the public service properly and can’t get its priorities right they should move over and let someone else do it.

“We keep hearing about credit ratings, bungled contracts with private operators that are not working out and yet the government is pushing ahead with big-ticket items like Elizabeth Quay at a time when many people out there can’t get timely access to much-needed services.”

Ms Walkington said many government agencies have been struggling to meet community demands for a couple of years already and the latest freeze is a slap in the face for dedicated public servants who desperately need support on the frontline.

Ms Walkington said there had been massive cutbacks to staff in the public service over the last couple of years, putting a major strain on those left behind who provide and maintain much-needed outcomes for the community.

“Despite the drop in staff numbers our population is still growing and demand for these services is still high.

“It’s important that staff are well rewarded for their work and they have an appropriate pay offer that retains them and prevents them from being lost to the private sector.”

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