Arnold plans public service cutbacks
ADELAIDE — South Australian Labor Premier Lynn Arnold has heralded a major restructuring of the state public service, including the axing of jobs.
One change will be the creation of a new layer of bureaucracy to distance government ministers from their departments. This layer of "portfolio coordinators" would handle the day-to-day "administrivia".
However, a major part of the plan involves slashing public service jobs. This was revealed by Arnold in announcing that he will bring down a mini-budget. "It may require a statement on reductions in employment levels in the public sector", he said.
Cutting the public service has been investigated by a parliamentary committee chaired by independent MP Terry Groom, who has now joined the government in a coalition.
Groom left the ALP earlier this year when his seat was abolished in a redistribution and he failed to gain preselection for another seat.
"We will not tolerate any shedding of jobs in the public sector", said Public Service Association secretary Jan McMahon.
The State Transport Authority has won its battle in the Arbitration Commission with the Australian Tramways and Motor Omnibus Employees Association to employ up to 30% of its work force as casual workers. The STA has said it will not sack full-time workers, but will replace those leaving with casuals.
Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen state secretary Rex Phillips said that the decision was "appalling". The introduction of casual labor in transport would "set a dangerous precedent".
"We've got a piece of paper that says that the STA won't try it on with train drivers, but we all know how much a piece of paper is worth", he said.
New health minister Martyn Evans has called for a report into the functioning of the health system, which has massive bed shortages and growing waiting lists for surgery. Department heads want to privatise some of the hospitals' departments.
However, the government's privatisation strategy received a setback last week with the refusal of the Trade Practices Commission to endorse the sale of the South Australian Gas Company to gas and oil giant Santos, on the grounds that it would give Santos a monopoly on gas in the state.