The union representing the public sector including ACT public service workers, the CPSU, today welcomes the Barr Labor Government's announcement to ban privatisation of public services.
Now more than ever, Australia needs a strong and properly resourced public service. That is why the CPSU is campaigning during the ACT election for our territory services to remain in public hands.
Today's announcement secures over 23,000 territory public sector jobs.
A re-elected ACT Labor Government will commit to protecting our public services by introducing a legislated framework by the end of 2021 that:
- ensures a public interest test is applied before any privatisation is considered;
- maintains pay and conditions of employment for any privatised jobs; and
- guarantees ongoing public accountability and transparency for any privatised services.
The Liberals have a strong track record or privatising and outsourcing jobs in the public service, so this announcement illustrates the stark choice Canberrans have in this election.
Brooke Muscat, CPSU Deputy National President said, "ACT Public sector workers welcome this announcement by the Barr Government. It will ensure that public services like Access Canberra, Allied Health, and Canberra Corrections will remain in public hands."
"Our members not only want to see their jobs safe from privatisation, they want to ensure that public services are accessible and secure.
"In many other jurisdictions where services have been privatised we have seen cost blow outs and accessibility issues. When public services are not in public hands, the focus always turns from community to profit."
"Liberal conservative governments do not value public services and jobs; we have seen over 20,000 permanent public service jobs slashed from the federal government and mass privatisation and outsourcing. Canberra can not afford Liberal governments nationally and in the territory. We are urging Canberrans to think about the future of community services before they vote."
