Published Tuesday, 02 September, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Springborg to cut 822 jobs from FNQ public services
Premier Anna Bligh today warned the Far North’s public servants that Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has their jobs in his sights.
“Mr Springborg must come clean and tell public servants exactly which ones he’s going to punt,” said the Premier.
Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said: “Maybe it’s the home care worker in Tully or Queensland Health’s services supervisor in Cooktown.”
The Opposition Leader told a business function recently he will shrink public services by ‘attrition’.
The Premier said: “I’m not sure where Mr Springborg got his attrition per centage because actual attrition averages 6.72% - or more like 12,000 jobs.”
“So he effectively sacks thousands and compounds this when no increases are taken into account for population growth.
“He glibly says no frontline people will be affected - but he’s cruelly unclear on which jobs gets cut.
“This stupidity has two clear downsides: no support positions will place a greater burden on the lesser remaining staff and the frontline staff won’t have the support they now have and need.
“He must tell Queensland which jobs are expendable and then from what sectors and regions they will come from?
“It’s all so contradictory. The Opposition has called for full-time teacher-aides in Prep classes. This would require 640 full-time people. How do they provide these while cutting thousands of other jobs?
“His unthinking on-the-run stupidity shows an ignorance of how the public service operates
“To the public servants – especially those in support roles – you’re in the Opposition crosshairs,” said the Premier.
Premier’s Office 3224 4500
“Mr Springborg must come clean and tell public servants exactly which ones he’s going to punt,” said the Premier.
Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said: “Maybe it’s the home care worker in Tully or Queensland Health’s services supervisor in Cooktown.”
The Opposition Leader told a business function recently he will shrink public services by ‘attrition’.
The Premier said: “I’m not sure where Mr Springborg got his attrition per centage because actual attrition averages 6.72% - or more like 12,000 jobs.”
“So he effectively sacks thousands and compounds this when no increases are taken into account for population growth.
“He glibly says no frontline people will be affected - but he’s cruelly unclear on which jobs gets cut.
“This stupidity has two clear downsides: no support positions will place a greater burden on the lesser remaining staff and the frontline staff won’t have the support they now have and need.
“He must tell Queensland which jobs are expendable and then from what sectors and regions they will come from?
“It’s all so contradictory. The Opposition has called for full-time teacher-aides in Prep classes. This would require 640 full-time people. How do they provide these while cutting thousands of other jobs?
“His unthinking on-the-run stupidity shows an ignorance of how the public service operates
“To the public servants – especially those in support roles – you’re in the Opposition crosshairs,” said the Premier.
Premier’s Office 3224 4500