LARGE parts of the Victorian public service could be outsourced to the private sector as the state government scrambles to free up cash to boost infrastructure and services. Community and Public Sector Union Victorian secretary Karen Batt was unsympathetic, accusing it of ‘‘taking the public out of public service… There is clearly a privatisation agenda’’
Large parts of the Victorian public service could be outsourced to the private sector
In what could be the biggest shake-up of the public sector since the Kennett era, a government taskforce headed by Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Helen Silver is believed to be closely scrutinising a range of administrative and support roles, including information technology, human resources, finance, corporate services, legal services and the government reporting service.
The government is applying to the Australian Taxation Office to offer a restricted class of redundancies targeting between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of some agencies, while avoiding workers involved in delivery of ‘‘front-line’’ services.
Department of Human Services secretary Gill Callister has confirmed the department will shed about 500 positions. The Department of Sustainability and Environment is likely to lose about 200, while the Department of Business Innovation is likely to lose 15 per cent of its staff — about 110 positions. It is believed the Department of Primary Industry will lose about 400 positions and Justice around 690.
In addition to the proposed cuts from the so-called Better Services Taskforce, an unreleased review of state finances, headed by Kennett-era Treasury secretary Mike Vertigan, has also recommended deep public sector cuts, outsourcing, privatisation and spending cuts.
The government has asked the Vertigan review to examine ‘‘private sector involvement in service delivery’’.
The moves have been initiated as the government tries to deliver a minimum $100 million budget surplus as part of a strategy to pay for future infrastructure without taking on debt. With the budget deeply in deficit during the second half of last year and revenue weak, it is struggling to find the money.
Community and Public Sector Union Victorian secretary Karen Batt was unsympathetic, accusing it of ‘‘taking the public out of public service… There is clearly a privatisation agenda’’.
Labor frontbencher Martin Pakula said: ‘‘If the Premier is getting ready to bring in the toecutters, he must come clean now and tell Victorians what it means for jobs.’’
Australian Industry Group Victorian director Tim Piper said no other workplace insurance system in Australian paid a dividend to government.
Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Mark Stone said the move ‘‘must not endanger the government’s capacity or willingness’’ to cut WorkSafe premiums.
Cesar Melhem of the Australian Workers’ Union said: ‘‘No government should help itself to workers’ money’’.
Another naive and inexperienced government cheered on by accountants. I’m sure their private mates will give frank and fearless advice – not.
You’d think the Kennett era would remind us that privatisation = increased costs to the public with no motivation to protect the peoples assets
Great idea, folks, can we please also outsource the Government?
Selling off our assets and privatising the public service – bad move Mr Baillieu. Public assets should not, under any circumstance be sold off to private investors. If you must cut costs, get rid of some of the highly paid Executives within Government. Keep going and you will lose the next election
It’s a real shame they can’t privatise the Liberal Party. Maybe a private sector organisation brought in to take the place of the Mr Baillieu might actually do something other than sack people and steal money from statutory authorities and WorkCover!
Outsourced to foriegn companies i guess and and when your parties loose elections you politicians sit at the big table and ask the question where did we go wrong?