Land & Property Information lunchtime Rally – July 2016 (PDF version)

Last Thursday 30 June the PSA held a lunch-time workplace meeting in front of LPI Queen’s Square to discuss, debate and vote on the next steps the union will take in our campaign to fight the privatisation.

The meeting was well attended with around 70 PSA members from LPI. Members from both the Transport Workers Union of NSW (TWU) and the Health Services Union of NSW (HSU) were there in solidarity.

Speakers at the rally included PSA Acting General Secretary Steve Turner, Greens MLC David Shoebridge and HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes.

The following three member motions from the floor of the meeting were raised and voted on:

• That PSA members take stop work strike action until 3pm that day;

• A campaign working party be set up to bring forward ideas on progressing the campaign; and

• That the ban on overtime be lifted.

PSA members should take pride in their continuing resolve in fighting privatisation. Your efforts are not in vain.

Later that day the PSA Acting General Secretary Steve Turner and LPI delegates met with Minister Perrottet.

The PSA and delegates raised various matters relating to members’ entitlements in a new private entity as well as the Government’s privatisation agenda.

Key points from this meeting were:

• The PSA pressed the Minister to provide us with the scoping study which purportedly is the basis of the proposed privatisation. Their response was that this document remains ‘cabinet in confidence’;

• The Minister expressed that a full government guarantee will be given to the integrity of the titling system once Titling & Registry Services (T&RS) is privatised;

• It is the Government’s intention to introduce the enabling legislation to the Spring session of Parliament – in either August or September – and the Minister agreed to provide the PSA with the draft bill once this occurs;

• The Government confirmed that it intended to make econveyancing mandatory for all future property transactions by moving to PEXA (Property Exchange Australia Ltd) – and that this Government decision is based on the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) agenda to deliver a national electronic conveyancing solution to the Australian property industry;

• The Government confirmed it was a shareholder in PEXA;

• The PSA sought full transparency regarding future employment guarantees. The Minister advised that all conditions and entitlements relating to employment is a matter for the Treasurer as Minister for Industrial Relations. The Minister will meet with the Treasurer as the Minister for Industrial Relations to obtain further information and agreed to send further information to the PSA;

• The PSA raised concerns regarding the loss of a skilled LPI workforce. The Minister advised that the title regulator will ensure that the skillset is maintained;

• The Minister informed us that for the duration of the contract (35 years) the skills had to be kept intact. This is in case the Government takes over the service either at the end of the contract or sooner;

• The PSA asked whether the sale would be like other sales (e.g. ferries, poles and wires, Service First) in relation to the structure.  It was asked whether existing LPI staff will be transitioned to the new employer or will the new employer choose staff. It was confirmed that the new employer will choose staff, and in light of the new Regulation on comparable employment, all staff will need to apply in order to be able to access any entitlements under the Managing Excess Employees policy. For details on the new regulation and the PSA’s position on it, see our bulletin HERE.

What’s next

The PSA campaign against this reckless decision to privatise T&RS continues. The campaign working party aims to:

• raise awareness of the impact that the privatisation of LPI will have on NSW citizens and LPI staff

• encourage members of the public to lobby relevant decision makers

• persuade Members of Parliament on the merits of LPI remaining public and the risks associated with its privatisation

• stop the forced transfer of LPI staff to private interests

• protect the rights, conditions and pay of PSA members in LPI

• oppose the use of the new Regulation to compel members to accept work in the private sector.

What can you do?

All members are encouraged to get involved in this campaign working party by registering your interest via email to PSA organiser Merv Christensen . The PSA will provide training, support, resources and guidance to the working party, however it is vital that members nominate and become involved in order to ensure its effectiveness.