Published Wednesday, 10 September, 2008 at 08:54 PM

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Springborg still no answers on 356 jobs from Mackay/Whitsunday services

Despite two weeks notice Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has still not detailed which services will be cut if elected, Premier Anna Bligh said this morning.

“Again I ask that Mr Springborg come clean on his Target 12,000 policy and tell public servants exactly which ones he’s going to axe,” said the Premier.

The Opposition Leader told a business function three weeks he will shrink public services by ‘attrition’.

“That’s 12,000 jobs – 356 of them from the Mackay Whitsunday region!”

“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 get cut.”

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt asks: “Maybe it’s one of the Information and Administration Officers from Disability Services Queensland?. May be it’s the Nurse Unit Manager at Dysart Hospital.

“These are jobs currently advertised that the Bligh Government is seeking to fill, but under Mr Springborg’s Target 12,000 they would be left empty,” he said.

The Premier said that the Target 12,000 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.

“Mr Springborg must tell Queensland which jobs are expendable and then from what sectors and regions they will come from?

“To the public servants – especially those in support roles – you’re in the Opposition crosshairs – Target 12,000’s got you lined up,” said the Premier.

Premier’s Office 3224 4500