North Coast and Mid North Coast Campaign Action Groups: Feedback from meeting with Tweed Heads MP Geoff Provest
On 4 November PSA/CPSU NSW delegation met with the Member of Parliament for the seat of Tweed Heads, Geoff Provest, to discuss the effect the unfair NSW public sector salary cap is having on workers in our region.
The delegation included Kellie Jermyn (Community Services Delegate), John Pitt (Community Services), Roger Tarrent (General Assistant, Department of Education) and Rebecca Reilly (PSA/CPSU NSW Regional Organiser).
The PSA/CPSU NSW delegation explained to Mr Provest that while we are already buckling under unfair laws that do not allow our wages to keep pace with inflation, the situation for members in our region has been exacerbated by the recent devastating floods.
We asked, Mr Provest confirm he is committed to the removal of the public sector wages cap. Mr Provest stated he wanted state public sector workers to be paid more. However, when asked if he would put a Bill to Parliament to remove the wages cap he said there was not enough time to write this Bill before Parliament shuts down for the year. Members of Parliament will not sit before the next election in March.
We asked Mr Provest to commit to removing the wages cap if he was elected in March. Mr Provest responded he would like more information about our members in his electorate and how this Bill affected them. The PSA/CPSU NSW committed to providing more information to Mr Provest in writing and will ask him to commit either way before the March election. Watch this space.
We would like to remind members that Mr Provest voted for this Bill in 2011 and has had plenty of time to present a Bill to parliament removing the wages cap.
PSA/CPSU NSW members have requested a meeting with Member of Parliament for the Ballina electorate Tamara Smith. This meeting will be on 5 December at 4:00pm. If you would like to attend this meeting with your fellow PSA/CPSU members contact Regional Organiser Rebecca Reilly.
Come to the next meeting to help arrange delegations to other North Coast and Mid North Coast MPs over the next few months to seek their commitment to NSW public sector workers.
Next meeting
Wednesday 16 November
4:00pm-5:00pm
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 423 405 973 889
Passcode: vrrdNj
Be active
If you’d like to be involved with the our North Coast and Mid North Coast Campaign Action Group please contact any of the following Regional Organisers: