News Flash

Getting rid of workers and cutting services - that's effectively the brief of the Sustainable Budget Commission as it works to find $750 million in public sector cuts. By handing the job to the Commission, the State Government has created a means by which it hopes to avoid media, and indeed public, scrutiny over its plans to further reduce the already stretched public sector.

The PSA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure its members' very genuine concerns about the impact further cuts will have on service, waiting times and the most vulnerable in the community are heard.

The Government will not go unchallenged in espousing the line that cuts will not impact on front line services. It remains a fact that if public sector administrative jobs are cut, it directly impacts on not only the workplace, but also the delivery of vital services that affect the health and welfare of South Australian families.

The PSA continues to receive reports of members in worksites across the public sector having unreasonable workloads, the community experiencing unreasonable delays and some services simply not being available. This is not acceptable.

PSA members and others in the community have been calling for a thoughtful response to the complex issues facing our community, not cuts to jobs and services.

Be assured the PSA will continue to take action to ensure the community is kept aware of the implications of any budget cuts. To that end, if you are concerned about workloads or cuts to Government programs please advise your concerns to the PSA. Your confidentiality will be respected.

Assist the PSA to protect services for South Australians by telling us what is happening in your workplace.

(Peter Christopher, Chief Industrial Officer – pgc@cpsu.asn.au)

21 April 2010