The Community and Public Sector Union is calling on the Albanese Labor Government to reject a proposal to privatise parts of Airservices Australia.
The proposal, which is a short-term cost cutting measure, would sell off critical airport firefighting assets and transfer the employment of specialised workers across to a private and for-profit system.
The union, which represents Emergency Vehicle Technicians, has labelled the proposal as 'dangerous'. It is dangerous for workers, for the travelling public, and for all Australians who continue to rely on the firefighting assets for disaster response in their local communities.
The proposal has been worked up by Price Waterhouse Coopers, and the union cautions government that this may end up being yet another outsourcing failure that lines the pockets of business at the expense of taxpayers and the travelling public.
Workers within Airservices are sounding the alarm, warning of potential safety implications should the government proceed with privatisation.
"I feel maintenance will become time based and rushed with less emphasis placed on doing the maintenance safely and methodically with a process of making a profit out of each piece of equipment."
Airservices firefighting capabilities are used regularly across the country in response to challenging fires, vehicle accidents, bushfires and even in medical emergencies. Airservices also played a significant role in tackling the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires.
"There is no way a private company would risk the reliability of their main assets by attending mutual aid. They are a high unrecoverable cost and involve intensely high maintenance."
According to the CPSU, a privatised model of Airservices' firefighting capability would likely see this contribution to the country cease.
Quotes attributable to Rebecca Fawcett, CPSU Deputy Secretary:
"This is a reckless proposal hatched by a big consulting firm that puts short-term cost cutting ahead of safety, communities and common sense.
"Once these assets are handed to a private, for profit operator, the priority shifts from safety to profit margins.
"Our Airservices firefighting capability has proven time and again that they are there for communities in crisis, including during the Black Summer bushfires. A private operator would have no obligation or incentive to step in and help.
"Regional communities stand to lose some of their most reliable emergency supports, while airports face increased safety risks - all so the government can chase short term savings.
"This is a dangerous proposal for workers and for the community. The government should reject it outright."
