Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s threat to freeze public service wages is a cynical attack on the wallets of Tasmanian workers, Labor Spokesperson for Workplace Relations Michelle O’Byrne said today.
“This is a blatant act of bad faith,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“Labor worked closely with the public sector unions to finalise this agreement in a challenging fiscal environment.
“The three-year deal was struck under tight budget circumstances and the 2 per cent agreed to is a modest increase.
“This pay freeze speaks to a trend of slashing pay to Tasmanian workers by Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein, such as their attack on an agreement struck with paramedics.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for Will Hodgman to blow out the wages of his Liberal staffers by in some cases up to 83 per cent, as reported at the weekend, while asking the state’s public servants to give up a hard-won 2 per cent.
“The fact is that Tasmanian workers are being frozen out so Will Hodgman can pay for his election promises.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Labor Spokesperson for Workplace Relations
