What extra incentives to be given to the Public Service?
Feb 16, 2012
Hon Iain Evans MP
Shadow Treasurer
What extra incentives to be given to the Public Service?
In the 2010/11 State Budget the Labor Government proposed cuts to the Public Service Long Service Leave Entitlements that saved $30 million per year.
The Public Service Association and the State Union Movement protested over the cuts to workers’ entitlements.
Premier Weatherill was in the Cabinet that decided to make these cuts.
Under pressure, Treasurer Snelling announced on the 4th June 2011 that he would:
“set up an urgent process... to make recommendations directly back to me (before end of the year [2011]) on how to best provide incentives that recognise and retain experienced public sector workers”. (Media release, 04/06/2011)
This “urgent” process was meant to be completed and recommendations given to the Treasurer by 31st December 2011.
“It is now February and what’s happened?” Shadow Treasurer Iain Evans questioned.
“In Parliament today I asked the Treasurer:
“Has the Government decided how best to provide incentives that recognise and retain experienced public sector workers, in response to the Government’s $30 million per annum cut to their long service leave entitlements?”“
In response the Treasurer indicated that the meetings with the Public Service Association are ongoing – after eight months!
“Relocation, retention and attraction allowances already exist in the Public Service and cost the taxpayer over $8 million per year.
“If new incentives are to be offered to the Public Service, the Treasurer needs to explain what they are and what they cost,” Mr Evans said.