United Voice News
Lawrence Springborg says he won't 'sack' workers .. but the numbers don't add up
He can only save $700 million by not filling vacancies. Analysis proves he will need to find ANOTHER $2.3 billion.
To fund his election promises he will have no choice but to SACK staff or sell off government assets.
If Lawrence Springborg becomes Premier he wants to cut $3 billion worth of essential public services to pay for his election promises.
He says he won’t sack workers – but how will he find $3 billion?
He won’t say what positions will be cut or when, just that every single agency will have its funding cut by 3 per cent every year.
What will a $3 billion cut across government mean?
Based on the latest budget figures, here is what Mr Springborg’s $3 billion cut would mean for key agencies:
- Health - 1,716 de-necessary jobs AND another $622 million cut,
- Education and Training - 1,329 de-necessary jobs AND another $659 million cut,
- Emergency Services - 174 de-necessary jobs AND another $71 million cut,
- Corrective Services - 228 de-necessary jobs AND another $23 million cut,
- Child safety - 228 de-necessary jobs AND another $35 million cut,
- Transport - 573 de-necessary jobs AND another $182 million cut,
- Communities - 375 de-necessary jobs AND another $48 million cut,
- Housing - 213 de-necessary jobs AND another $49 million cut,
- Primary Industries - 114 de-necessary jobs AND another $23 million cut,
- Natural Resources - 324 de-necessary jobs AND another $26 million cut,
- Justice & Attorney General - 477 de-necessary jobs AND another $16 million cut,
- Environmental Protection - 144 de-necessary jobs AND another $26 million cut,
- Police - 525 de-necessary jobs AND another $100 million cut.
(Source: as applied to Agency figures from Budget paper no.2, State Budget 2009)
Based on 2008 figures, that’s 9,000 AO jobs that won’t be filled. He calls this “making jobs de-necessary” or “natural attrition”. But analysis of budget figures prove natural attrition will only save $657 million.
He needs $3 billion to fund his election promises. There is no way to save that much without sacking workers.
Even if Mr Springborg cut every single position that fell vacant for three years, he would still need to sack 9,000 more per year or he will be $750 million short for funding his election promises.
We can't take this chance.
Gary Bullock
Branch Secretary
