More than 1200 regional public sector jobs go up in smoke
Media reports today of the loss of up to 120 Rural Fire Service jobs pushes the toll of public sector job losses in regional NSW to more than 1200 staff, according to the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA).
Regional towns and communities that depend on public sector employment will be hit by a devastating loss of frontline services, economic damage and social fragmentation.
PSA General Secretary, John Cahill, says the State Government is a major employer in the regions and small changes in employment can have a large impact on local communities.The NSW Government’s agenda of quick and deep public sector job cuts is tearing apart the fabric of our regional communities, Mr Cahill said today.Not even vital regional services like the Rural Fire Service, Office of Water and Crown Lands can escape the budget razor.
The PSA is calling on the State Government to declare which communities and services will be impacted by job cuts and outline the full economic impact for local regions.There really should be solid modeling of economic and social impacts before any decision is made about stripping public sector jobs out of the regions, he said.
Contact: Steve Turner 0418 675 564 / Jane Garcia 0434 489 533
Tally of public sector job losses in regional NSW
Compiled by the NSW Public Service Association based on State Government announcements and discussions with Departments and Agencies.
| Region | Department or Service | Number of job losses announced |
| Grafton | Grafton jail | 108 |
| Gosford | Workcover and NSW Industrial Relations office | 101*[100 Workcover jobs re-located from regional NSW to Sydney] |
| Newcastle | NSW Industrial Relations office | 6 |
| Illawarra, Wollongong | NSW Industrial Relations office | 7 |
| Illawarra | Illawarra TAFE | Up to 250 |
| Coffs Harbour | NSW Industrial Relations office | 3 |
| Orange | NSW Industrial Relations office | 1 |
| Wagga | NSW Industrial Relations office | 2 |
| Regional NSW [location unknown] |
67 [17 March, 50 June] Office of Water; 175 Crown Lands and up to 350 Office of Environment and Heritage; 26 Forests NSW | 618 |