Liberals stop blood donors

Wednesday, March 29, 1995 - 10:00

Liberals stop blood donors

By Melanie Sjoberg

ADELAIDE — Only a minister lacking sensibility would make the ludicrous move to stop public sector workers donating blood. Prisons minister Wayne Matthew succeeded in doing this on March 22.

For five months the Red Cross had been negotiating with correctional services officers and their families to organise blood donations at the workplace. The morning the Red Cross planned to set up at the Adelaide Remand Centre, Matthew stepped in, claiming security would be compromised.

Off-duty prison officers were going to donate blood, while some workers had agreed to work on their day off to provide relief for those on shift.

Public Service Association secretary Jan McMahon said that the minister was intent on breaking down the morale of prison officers. This makes sense given that the Liberal government intends to privatise the prisons.

From GLW issue 181