Greens Reject Public Sector Wage Freeze

The Tasmanian Greens will not support the Hodgman government’s move to freeze public sector wages, describing it as a serious breach of faith.

“The Greens will not be supporting any special legislation this Hodgman regime may introduce to facilitate their unconscionable wage freeze on our public sector employees, who work so hard to deliver services across the community,” Mr Booth said.

“The Liberals’ double-standards and hypocrisy are gobsmacking.”

“If the Hodgman regime was serious about fiscal responsibility the Premier would not have allocated huge six figure salaries to Liberal ministerial advisors. The Premier would also stop doling out corporate welfare to the private sector, including political donors, such as the $15 million Myer loan to the Kalis Group.”

“If the Liberals were serious about the state’s budget bottom line, they would not have spent the last four years talking down the economy and urging Canberra to end the carbon pricing arrangements which brought $70 million every year into Tasmania.”

“This wage freeze is not about the Liberals suddenly needing to fix an unforseen hole in the state finances. Instead they are using our public service as the fall guy, in a desperate attempt to try to fund their exorbitant election promises they made despite knowing at the time the state couldn’t afford them,” Mr Booth said.
Kim Booth MP | Greens Leader