Chairman of the Opposition’s WasteWatch* Committee and Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has highlighted how the NSW Government continues to advertise non-frontline public service positions, despite a Cabinet Memorandum supposedly freezing such appointments.
“Effective from the date of this Memorandum, a freeze applies to:
filling of all non front line jobs”,
Memorandum M2009-15, Staffing Freeze, 26 June 2009
“In less than six months since the announcement the State Labor Government has advertised at least 180 positions inconsistent with the Premier’s memorandum,” Mr O’Dea said.
“These 180 positions offer salaries totalling $20 million per annum. These valuable taxpayer funds could have been used to employ hundreds more nurses, teachers and police officers, desperately needed at the frontline.
“Positions for directors, managers, policy advisors and project officers are repeatedly advertised despite the Premier’s supposed ‘staffing freeze’,” he said.
For example, last week the Government advertised for a Manager, Governance and Risk Management in the NSW Department of Services, Technology and Administration with an annual remuneration package of $152,236; and on Friday the Government advertised for an Executive Director, Shared Services with a remuneration package of $231,951 to $267,650.
“This broken State Labor Government appears to be guilty of both mismanagement and dishonesty, with a bloated bureaucracy and actions inconsistent with its promises.
“NSW is crying out for real solutions and ethical governance - not spin and meaningless promises”, concluded Mr O’Dea.
