|
The Iemma Government is continuing to pay hundreds of its ‘displaced’ employees for a year even though they do not have a job and then giving many a redundancy payout as well, said Shadow Minister for Commerce Mike Baird, who is calling for reform.
“It is astonishing that we have a system where people in the public sector are fired yet they continue to be paid for a job they no longer have,” Mr Baird said.
Mr Baird said questions put to the Premier revealed the average length of time spent on the Government’s ‘redeployment program’ is 38 weeks and that approximately 90 people each year are also paid a redundancy after being on the program.
"This is another example of how the State finances are frittered away by the Iemma Government. How can they be trusted to manage the State when they are paying people 38 weeks of salary to do nothing and then paying them a redundancy?” Mr Baird said.
“A competent manager will tell you that every dollar is precious and in this instance we are seeing millions wasted because the Iemma Government is bowing to union pressure.
“We know the Government has approximately 230 public servants registered as displaced workers; however there are many more that are not registered.
“Obviously it is a waste of taxpayer funds but it is also demoralising for the employees who do not have a job but are just floating around in the system.
“In 2005 the Premier told the Parliament he regarded the displaced list as a priority and that a redundancy is a last resort*.
“However the number of redundancies given to people on the program in the past couple of years has increased – jumping from 83 in 2006 to 91 last year. On current numbers, 40% of people who go on this list for almost a year are then paid a redundancy.”
Freedom Of Information documents obtained by the State Opposition last November revealed the bill for the displaced workers is around $45 million each year.
“With NSW in such a state of disrepair, it is even more appalling that millions are being wasted paying people who don’t have a job,” Mr Baird said.
MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880
*General Purpose Standing Committee hearings for ‘Premier, Treasury, Citizenship’ – 20 September 2005 (page 24-25 of transcript)
|
