Senator Gary Humphries is putting on a brave face to point out forced redundancies from the public service:
A series of leaked emails received by ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries has revealed that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has identified the first 49 employees that will lose their jobs under a new wave of cuts.
“Senator Lundy has continually denied the prospect of forced redundancies to the media, but this evidence is proof positive that forced redundancies are happening under Labor”, Senator Humphries said.
Within the documents, the employees set to lose their jobs are referred to as ‘excess Interviewers’ with those set to face the chop to be ‘notified in the period 25 – 28 February’.
It is understood that the number set to face the sack equals around 10% of the ABS Interviewer workforce.
Senator Humphries says that the Community and Public Sector Union was briefed on these sackings, but has made no public comment on them.
“Why has it taken the ACT’s Liberal Senator to bring this to light, rather than the public sector union?
“Kate Lundy and her Ministerial colleagues have worked away at slashing the budget and making cuts that have ultimately lead to forced redundancies – until now, and despite speculation, they have kept it very quiet.
“With another abysmal Labor budget deep in deficit being cooked up right now and Senate Estimates less than a week away, Labor must come clean on how many more public servants will be forced out of their jobs.
“Serving up the old line of no forced redundancies is finished – now Canberrans deserve the facts”, Senator Humphries concluded.
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10% of the ABS Interviewer
Sorry, I must be having a very slow day today, and having trouble with reading comprehension.
My slow brain is reading this as if there are roles within ABS where the sole responsibility is to interview people, and nothing else.
But, but, but, Abbott is going to cut the PS!
Oh dear, PS cuts *before* Abbott becomes PM. Time for Labor to fine-tune their scare campaign for the election.
Jivrashia said :
Not for job interviews.
They interview and ask questions of people/industries in order to gain the data for the departments core business which is compiling statisitics.
Jivrashia said :
Yes, I assume survey takers……?
Bad news for the 49, but perhaps it will mean “around 10%” less chance of further incidents like this:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/pushing-the-limits-of-privacy/story-e6frg6z6-1226240259101
workchoices?
Thumper said :
Roundhead89 said :
This on top of the thousands of job cuts the government has already forced upon Canberra public servants, cleverly named “efficiency dividends”. By the time Abbott wins the election in September there wont be any jobs for the Liberals to cut!
Thumper said :
Another example of Labor shamelessly stealing the coaltion’s policies.
Meh?
Meanwhile, the CPSU are seeking signatures to a petition against a parking increase in Tuggs from zilch to $2.75- less than the cost of five mins bitching about it.
Jivrashia said :
Not only that, but there were 490 of them!
No real sympathy from me having had one of these jack-booted interviewers knock at my door asking about household income etc.
They send out a letter a week before they come knocking saying that you “Must” take part in their surveys or face a fine of $110 per day – the one that knocked on my door didn’t believe me when I said that I hadn’t recieved it. I’m generally not in a hurry to pick up my bills until the snails have had a nibble so he walked with me down to the letterbox (battleaxe block with a long driveway) and wasn’t satified until I sorted my mail and was able to show him that the ABS letter was indeed still in my letterbox.
I had to deal with these ABS robots several years ago, and I just told them what they wanted to hear – not that it bore any actual resemblance to the reality of my circumstances at the time. I think I had to see them once a month for 12 months.
So long as you don’t make the ‘facts’ and figures sound too implausable, I found it was pretty easy to keep them satisfied. Some of the questions were pretty personal though, and I can see why most people don’t like these officials prying into their lives.
you must fill out ze papers. Democracy at it’s best. Come knocking on my door like that and I will gladly pay the fine with a punch in the face
Harrym said :
The Australian Privacy Foundation (of which I am a part) receives many complaints about this process. It is actually the law to comply with these intrusive requests.
benno1 said :
+100
It’s part of the contract of civilization to participate in measures so that society, as represented by the government, knows what’s going on.
Martlark said :
No. The way government should be run is not to ask anyone for any input whatsoever. That way, when the govt does something, everyone can complain about it and demand the govt consult with the taxpayers
dtc said :
You are far smarter or more cynical, by far than me. Which would be worse?