Goodbye Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

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MERCURY

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Subject
CPSU Update #8 – DEPHA & TOURISM

Dear xxx

Treasurer Swan’s Federal Budget contains a significant write-down in GST receipt revenue to Tasmania and the State Government has reinvigorated its call for a State Service wage freeze to minimise job losses.

Our local media is buzzing with news the Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (DEPHA) will cease to exist and divisions will be rolled back into other Agencies – but the CPSU, DEPHA staff and other stakeholders were never consulted about this massive upheaval.

This lack of consultation by Tasmania’s largest employer is poor industrial practice, smacks of total arrogance, sets a bad example for smaller employers and doesn’t contribute to a respectful, supportive and collective solution to our shared financial woes.

DEPHA was established in 2002 to unify government administration of ‘the assets and values Tasmanian is famous for – our wilderness, our pristine environment, our cultural heritage and our creativity’ (DEPHA website) and its removal doesn’t appear to deliver any short term savings and may cost more in re-branding and relocation than it saves.

We have no indication from Government about what savings it expects but given the work needed to relocate displaced permanent employees it’s doubtful the financial benefits will be large, and they may be non-existent.

The CPSU will arrange meetings in directly affected areas as soon as possible and DEPHA members should email [email protected] with concerns, feedback or questions and also forward this update to non-member colleagues who can then email us or call 6234 1708 to arrange membership so the can gain union protection in this difficult time.

Other recent bad news is that Tasmania Temptations Holidays Launceston Call Centre workers have been told the centre will close. This division of Tourism Tasmania is staffed by permanent State Servants and caters to the tourism industry and holiday makers – its closure will displace up to 35 members.

Tourism Tasmania ignored repeated calls from the CPSU to clarify the future of the service and decided instead to call staff together one afternoon with no notice and announce the closure. CPSU Organiser Chris Smith is working with members to ensure their needs are met to the greatest possible degree.

Fixed Term workers across the State Service also appear to be on borrowed time as reports of non-renewal or early conclusion of contracts are becoming more frequent.

Union resources exist because of the financial commitment of members so we’ll only work to protect the jobs and conditions of CPSU members – It’s time for non-members to join the CPSU! Please talk to your colleagues about the importance of union membership.

Only the CPSU can truly speak on behalf of workers across the entire State Service and even if you feel you don’t need assistance right now you should join the CPSU to help provide a more powerful voice to the notion of government employment.

The State Service can be a great employer and we all must take some responsibility for its defence and maintenance because if no one defends the idea of Public Service the naysayers will dish out a slow death by a thousand cuts.

It’s accepted there’ll be more pain to come but your union offers personal protection for your job, salary and entitlements and collective protection for the Tasmanian State Service itself – Do your colleagues a favour and ask them to join today.

Any feedback as events progress is always welcome.

More to follow.

In Unity,

Mat Johnston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acting General Secretary
Community and Public Sector Union
(State Public Services Federation – Tasmania) Inc.
Acting Branch Secretary
Community and Public Sector Union
(State Public Services Federation – Tasmania)

Nick McKim

ATTENTION: CHIEFS OF STAFF & POLITICAL JOURNALISTS
DEPT AXED: WHO IS REALLY THE ‘UNKIND AND CRUEL’ ONE?

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Thursday, 14 May 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
An entire Department abolished with no consultation with workers, no consultation with unions, no detail on job losses, and no clarity on costings… Who is being ‘unkind and cruel’ now, Premier?

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP will demand that the Premier issues a commitment that proper consultation with public service workers and unions will occur in future before decisions are made regarding Departmental restructures, and especially should there be an impact on jobs.

Mr McKim will also pursue the Bartlett government’s failure to secure critical infrastructure funding allocation in the Federal budget.

Environment Tas

MEDIA ALERT – 14/5/2009

ENVIRONMENT GROUPS RESPOND TO AXING OF PARKS, ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENTS

Environment groups have reacted with disbelief at the Tasmanian government’s decision to axe the Parks & Environment Departments and merge them with Primary industries and resources. They are unprepared to accept the decision – which they believe will be very unpopular in Tasmania and will make a laughing stock of Tasmania nationally & internationally – and will push strongly for this decision to be overturned and for Tasmania to have a properly resourced stand alone Environment department.

…

MEDIA RELEASE – 14th May 2009

ENVIRONMENT GROUPS EXPRESS DISMAY AT AXING OF ENVIRONMENT, PARKS DEPARTMENTS

Stand-alone Environment Department needed for 21st century challenges

Environment groups expressed dismay at the Government’s confirmation today that it would axe funding for and re-arrange critical government departments that manage Tasmania’s unique environment, national parks, reserves and heritage. The proposed changes will merge Parks & the environment departments with the logging, resources, mining and infrastructure departments, diluting and completely compromising their effectiveness, and creating clear ministerial conflicts of interest.

“Tasmania’s environment is its biggest asset, delivering an international reputation for the state and health benefits to its residents. Enhancing environmental protection is critical in securing a prosperous future for Tasmania,” said Vica Bayley, Campaign Director for The Wilderness Society.

“Tasmania deserves a strong independent voice for the environment in cabinet; placing the Environment Department with Primary Industries creates a clear conflict of interest where the environment will not be prioritised.

Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania, said the cost-cuts had wrongly targeted the most chronically under-funded and under-resourced government sectors.

“The Parks & Wildlife service is the poorest, most under-staffed and under-resourced government agency and it has had its role and funding slashed, whilst the government has, to date, completely ignored profligate and wasteful spending by other agencies such as Forestry Tasmania,” he said

“Tasmania’s number one economic advantage is its outstanding natural environment, brand and heritage, and the number one area of jobs growth in recent years and in coming years will be in environmental stewardship, innovation, fresh world-class produce, tourism and renewable energy,” he continued,

“Axing funding and staffing in the area of our greatest economic advantage, the environment, is a retrograde step. What we should be doing is establishing a well resourced Department of Sustainability and the Environment, which will deliver better environmental outcomes for all Tasmanians,” he concluded.

…

——————————————————————————–

From: Cath Hughes [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 15 May 2009 13:30
To: Cath Hughes
Subject: Tas Greens MR_’Clean, Green & Clever’ Abondoned by Bartlett_N McKim MP
Importance: High

‘CLEAN, GREEN AND CLEVER’ ABANDONED BY SHORT-SIGHTED PREMIER
Sense of Community Pride Will be Next to Go
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Friday, 15 May 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today said that Premier David Bartlett’s decision to abolish the Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (DEPHA) signals the end of the clean, green and clever vision for Tasmania’s future which was first suggested by the Greens decades ago.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that by diminishing the importance of creativity, environmental regulation and the management of national parks, Mr Bartlett has confirmed that he is not the person to take Tasmania forward to meet the great challenges of the 21st century.

“One positive aspect of Jim Bacon’s legacy was that he engendered a sense of pride and purpose. Mr Bartlett is in the process of dismantling this self-respect, and as a result we not only face an economic recession, but a community-wide identity crisis,” Mr McKim said.

“Only a person with no understanding of what Tasmania is built on, and where the best economic opportunities exist for the future, could have taken the decision to abolish the very Department that was responsible for protecting and enhancing values like creativity and sustainability.”

“The clean green strategic direction for Tasmania, based on a genuine Brand, should have underpinned wealth, prosperity and jobs for the future. But it now lies in tatters thanks to a Premier without any vision or an understanding of the great global challenges and opportunities.”

“A strong Brand is not just a valuable marketing tool but should also be the framework by which all strategic decisions are made. Our clean, green Brand, creativity and the environment should underpin Tasmania’s future direction but David Bartlett is taking the State down the wrong direction.”

“While far sighted leaders around the world are moving towards sustainability and green collar jobs, Mr Bartlett is heading as quickly as he can in the other direction.”

Mr McKim also said that Mr Bartlett’s continued personal attacks on him, including foul-mouthed personal abuse, show a Premier out of his depth, and out of ideas.

“If Mr Bartlett cannot govern himself, and show a bit of self discipline, how on earth can he claim to be able to govern Tasmania?”

“Mr Bartlett can say whatever he likes about me, but I’m not the one who abolished an entire department without consulting the workers or their unions.”

“Instead of resorting to panicked ad hoc and divisive decisions such as axing an entire Department, Mr Bartlett should instead abandon controversial projects such as Forestry’s Tarkine loop rd and the Hawthorn football sponsorship deal which would save much more money,” Mr McKim said.