News Flash

A predictable Advertiser headline "PS Warned: It is time to shape up" followed Minister Jay Weatherill's media statement "Raising the Bar Across the Public Service".

Consistent with it's genuine-ness in it's commitment to consult, the Public Sector Performance Commission has not even met with the PSA for twelve months.

While the Minister talks about improving agencies performance, the reality on the ground is somewhat different - another government attack on the Public Sector to try and justify more job cuts.

Minister Weatherill talks about greater services to the community. How can there be better services when over 1000 jobs have gone this year?

Genuine reform needs to be about more than cost-cutting and job losses.

PSA has consistently raised the need for a Public Sector-wide approach, yet we see more and more authority going to individual Chief Executives.

An efficient and effective Public Sector needs long-term stability and a consistent policy direction, not a climate of fear and job cuts.

Snide media comments about cardigan wearing Public Servants always taking flextime do a grave dis-service to the dedicated over-worked employees of government agencies. There is little evidence of cardigans in the workplace and even less evidence being able to use their accrued flextime. Most work many extra hours and have no opportunity to take time off because of lack of resources and increasing public demand.

Members with examples of workload concerns, difficulty meeting client needs or an inability to take accrued time off should advise the PSA. Examples should be forwarded to workloads@cpsu.asn.au

9 November 2009