PSA News – 24 July 2014

Government’s Decade of Decentralisation a road to anywhere cheap

In November 2012, the State Government appointed the NSW Decentralisation Taskforce to undertake a review of the so called Decade of Decentralisation policy.

Unsurprisingly, while the Government says the policy is all about better servicing and supporting regional communities, the bottom line really, as always, is about cost savings and “efficiencies”.

The NSW Decentralisation Taskforce provided its report to the Government in April 2013.

You can read the report HERE.

In August 2013, the Government responded.

You can read that report HERE.

Now that response is slowly being actioned.

In March, the Government used the media to announce that more than 3,000 public servants were to be relocated to Sydney’s west and south-west.

Among the moves flagged was Sport and Recreation shifting from Olympic Park to Penrith, the Office of Environment and Heritage to share space in Parramatta with the Office of State Revenue and the relocation of areas of Family and Community Services.

In early June it was announced that the CBD offices of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will be moved to Hurstville in 2015, bringing to an end more than 150 years of tradition in the centre of the city.

The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) Acting CEO has released a statement advising staff that “as part of this whole of government program, Roads and Maritime Services is considering a number of options to reduce the cost of office accommodation, particularly within the Sydney CBD.”

“One such option is the potential relocation of around a thousand staff from the existing leased site in North Sydney to existing Government-owned offices including Rozelle, Parramatta and a vacant building in Ennis Road Kirribilli.”

“This option, which would be implemented from 2016, would potentially save Government approximately $10 million per annum which could be reinvested into frontline staff and infrastructure.”

WorkCover have now sent a memo to its staff to advise it will not be renewing their Surry Hills, Hurstville and Liverpool leases that are due to expire towards the end of 2014 and in early 2015.

Staff from Sydney CBD South, Blacktown, Parramatta, Liverpool and Hurstville will be relocated to new offices in Baulkham Hills and Liverpool.

Annual PSA Women’s Conference 2014

Registrations are now open for PSA Women’s Conference.

This year’s conference will be held on Tuesday, 9 and Wednesday, 10 September, 2014 at PSA House, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney.

All women who are financial members of the PSA are encouraged to nominate to attend.

Register for the conference HERE.

Registrations close on Thursday, 31 July 2014.

Payment of 2.27% increase

Members employed under the Public Sector Salaries and related awards will receive an increase of 2.27% from the first full pay period after 1 July 2014.

Any Department unable to process the rise on the day of that first full pay period will be required to pay the increase retrospectively in the next.

Sign our petition to help stop the privatisation of NSW

While the PSA strongly supports the principles behind the NDIS, the total privatisation of ADHC will dramatically undermine choice and the provision of quality services for clients.

The implementation of the NDIS will be far more effective if the Government retains a key role in delivering this vital human service.

To make matters worse, the Government so far has failed to make a commitment to protect the job security, conditions, entitlements and pay of the public servants who are to be transferred, like it or not, to a private employer.

This is undoubtedly just the beginning of a mass sell off of public services in NSW.

Please sign the petition HERE and ask your family, work colleagues and friends to sign also.

Note: we must have original signatures on the petition, no photocopies, faxes or email.

So please print a copy, collect as many signatures as you can, and post the petition back to:

Valerie Morales
Public Service Association of NSW
GPO Box 3365
Sydney NSW 2001

by Friday, 10 October 2014