Government plans to transfermore welfare services to non-Government organisations could cost thousands of Public Service jobs, according to the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association of WA.
The Premier, Colin Barnett, has announced a plan to transfer more services out of the PS to community based organisations which he said would allow taxpayers’ money to be used more efficiently.
Delivery policy sparks fears of job cuts
Mr Barnett said the Government’s partnership with not-for-profit groups would also result in better services for the needy across the State.
“We believe they will be more effective in reaching out to a wider community, and use the taxpayers’ money better,” the Premier said.
“This will be the trend in a whole range of social services delivered in Western Australia and you will see that increasingly throughout this year.”
But the Branch Secretary of the CPSU/CSA, Toni Walkington said the plan to transfer the services would threaten jobs.
“There is a whole range of services so we could be talking about thousands, tens of thousands of jobs if the Government is very aggressive about this,” Ms Walkington said.
She said the union would consult with its members on the issue.
Mr Barnett made the announcement at the launch of an inner-city service centre for Uniting Care West in East Perth which will focus on helping the homeless.
He said transferring services was the way of the future.
“This will be the trend in a whole range of social services delivered in Western Australia and you will see that increasingly throughout this year.”
To Ms Walkington however, the case has yet to be proven.
“Our members feel very strongly about this and I would expect that they will not allow that to happen without a fight.”
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