CPSU Tasmania welcomes budget announcement

The Community and Public Sector Union has cautiously welcomed the Federal Budget.

“Given the tight economic times, as well as the extreme lobbying by big business and right wing think tanks, it is pleasing that there are no large scale cuts to the Federal Public Service” CPSU Regional Secretary Paul Blake said. “With 4000 federal public service jobs in Tasmania any large reduction would result in pressure on the Tasmanian Workforce as well as less service to the public who are already facing delays.”

While the government has announced that there will be a 1% reduction in the higher levels of the public service it is hoped that it would not have too dramatic an impact here. “The profile of the public service in Tasmania is such that we are already running on a minimal number of Executive Level employees so it would be hoped that these will be retained in the process of looking at cuts” Mr Blake said.

“Overall we are pleased that the integrity of the public service is maintained and it’s importance realised. This flies in the face of the coalition’s stated target of reducing the public sector by 20,000 jobs which would equate to 500 Tasmanian jobs disappearing,” Mr Blake said. “We also welcome the commitment to the future of the Antarctic CRC at the University as it keeps Tasmania as the centre of Antarctic research with the corresponding flow on effects in skilled jobs and the promotion of Tasmania.”
Federal Public Service” CPSU Regional Secretary Paul Blake