14,000 jobs to go but no sackings: Newman
By Maree Hawthorne
Posted Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 1:45am Friday 14 Sep 2012 at 1:45am Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 1:45am , updated Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 10:02am Friday 14 Sep 2012 at 10:02am Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 10:02am
Protesters rally outside Queensland's Parliament House on September 12, 2012 after the LNP State Government announced sweeping job cuts in the budget. (ABC: John Taylor)
abc.net.au/news/no-qld-public-servants-sacked-newman-says/4261346
Premier Campbell Newman has told Queensland Parliament that no permanent employees have been sacked as part of the state's budget process.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls unveiled the Liberal National Party (LNP) Government's first state budget on Tuesday, cutting 14,000 public service positions.
Mr Nicholls said the cuts would save almost $8 billion over the next four years.
The job cuts have sparked fury in Queensland, with thousands of people marching on state parliament on Wednesday and billionaire LNP donor Clive Palmer warning that Mr Newman could be out of a job by Christmas if he persists with the plan.
But today Mr Newman said all those affected by the cuts were being offered redeployment or voluntary redundancy.
And he said no-one had been forced out of work.
"It is simply not true to say that this Government has sacked or cut 14,000 people," Mr Newman said.
"Despite all the hype and the hysteria, not one permanent employee has been sacked as a result of the budget process.
"We are putting $800 million on the table for voluntary redundancy program for people who choose not to seek redeployment."
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Premier's comments show he feels his own job is under threat.
"It was completely bizarre. The Premier is obviously backpedalling. There's a lot of discontent on the backbench as we well know," she said.
"Even backbenchers are talking to me, saying to me that they are surprised by the number of people out there on the streets protesting.
"We know that the Premier is basically out to save his own job."
Meanwhile, the Queensland Government says it is bypassing the state's public sector union with a wage offer for public servants.
The Together union has already rejected the 2.35 per cent pay offer.
But Minister Assisting the Premier Glen Elmes says it is more than twice the rate of inflation and a significant improvement on the previous offer.
Mr Elmes says negotiations broke down at an Industrial Relations Commission hearing today, and about 60,000 public servants will now be balloted directly.
"It's the first time certainly in this Government's term that we have gone down this track," he said.
Posted 14 Sep 2012 14 Sep 2012 Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 1:45am , updated 14 Sep 2012 14 Sep 2012 Fri 14 Sep 2012 at 10:02am
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