Day of action against cuts

By Melanie Sjoberg

ADELAIDE--The state executive of the nurses union has endorsed the day of action called for May 24 against the proposed cuts in the Public Sector Audit Review.

“The Audit Commission report is clearly designed to prepare the ground for massive cuts to the state public health system”, said Gail Gago, secretary of the Australian Nurses Federation (SA).

Gago argues that the so-called facts in the review have been misconstrued. She said that nurses in SA have already implemented wide-ranging productivity and efficiency reforms.

She said SA has a high utilisation rate of health services because it has the highest unemployment rate, the highest proportion of older people and the lowest average weekly earnings. The review doesn't take social and economic factors into account.

Teachers will strike on May 24 to protest against the dramatic attacks on education contained in the public service audit.

The review recommends cutting the number of teachers in the state by 931 and full-time support staff by 821. It calls for closure or amalgamation of 185 metropolitan schools. This will effect 56% of all schools, with primary schools hardest hit.

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