Proposed cuts to SA public service
South Australian Opposition Leader, Isobel Redmond, has said the state public service should shed more than 20,000 jobs through a combination of retirements and redundancy packages. Ms Redmond last week attacked the state government for giving large payouts to people nearing retirement age.
South Australian Opposition Leader, Isobel Redmond, has said the state public service should shed more than 20,000 jobs through a combination of retirements and redundancy packages.
Ms Redmond last week attacked the state government for giving large payouts to people nearing retirement age.
She called for reform of the SA public service and claimed the number of people working in the sector should not exceed the 65,000 current workers.
“We’d need to reduce it reasonably quickly. We do need to cut it but we can do it with natural attrition,” Ms Redmond said.
She added there was no intention to implement cuts as deep as the Campbell Newman government in Queensland, and the Barry O’Farrell government in NSW.
“They’re cutting it in one fell swoop and saying ‘14,000 gone’. We hope not to have massive cuts through the public service in any event for two good reasons.
“One is that we have an ageing public service. The first of the baby boomers reached retirement age last year. About 8,000 to 12,000 people will come to retirement age each year as we come forward.”
She claimed a federal Liberal government may also fund more of SA public sector wages.
Health and Ageing Minister, John Hill, tweeted cuts of the magnitude Ms Redmond was suggesting would mean 8,000 jobs being axed in his department.
The state public service has grown by almost 25% in the past decade. About 18,000 extra full time jobs have been added.
Do you work in the South Australian public service sector? Share your thoughts on the proposed job cuts.
