12 October 2011

420 jobs going at Health

| johnboy
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Liberal Senator Gary Humphries has announced his discovery of plans to cut jobs at the Health Department:

A response to a question on notice from the Minister for Health and Ageing tabled in the Senate today has revealed that the Department of Health and Ageing is to shed 420 jobs next financial year.

The response says that “it is presently estimated staffing for the core department will reduce from a forecast of 4,060 staff in 2010-11 to a forecast 3,640 in 2012-13 i.e. an estimated decrease of 420 staff or approximately 10%”.

“This is rank hypocrisy from the Labor MPs who purport to stand up for Canberra’s public service,” Senator Humphries said today.

“As Labor candidates in the 2010 federal election, Andrew Leigh, Gai Brodtmann and Kate Lundy insisted that they would stand up against reductions in the size of the public service. Indeed ACT Labor was very critical of the Liberal Party for proposing much more modest cuts than these.

“Now it looks as though they don’t care when Labor plans to make cuts to the public service.

“The Coalition was up front and honest about its plans to downsize the public service by natural attrition alone. Just like its broken promise on the carbon tax, Labor has said one thing before an election and done another thing once elected.

“If Andrew Leigh, Gai Brodtmann and Kate Lundy are fair dinkum about protecting the public service in Canberra they would speak out. Sadly, I’m not holding my breath.

A fair dinkum! That’s a rare splendour!

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Um, I think you’ll find that anything the other mob do is bad. So:

– Humphries calls on Leigh and Brodtman to speak out against PS cuts imposed/planned by the ALP, but because it is an ALP policy, Leigh and Brodtmann stay silent

AND

– Leigh and Brodtmann call on Humphries to speak out against PS cuts imposed/planned by the Libs, but because it is a Libs policy, Humphries stays silent

AND

– in both cases, the Greens are silent / make grand speeches (depending on whether there is an election in the air and who proposes the cuts) because they will never have to make decisions like that themselves.

Oh, the joys of living in a safe seat.

Its Humphreys who’s the hypocrite. Here he is, once again, trying to score political points using public servants. He doesn’t give a rats *rse about the actual people, his constituents, who are going to get the sack.

I suggest re-wording the title as I read it and thought: Awww man that would be freaking awesome working in the Weed Division of the Dept of Health or some QANGO that deals in pot, i didnt even know that they had one. It would be a relaxed place to work, everyone would get along and there would be no fighting, people would be laughing as well as being productive and everyone would want to go to work. Drink and snacks machines would be good too i’d imagine.

Johnboy, you really got my hopes up.

Gungahlin Al10:28 am 13 Oct 11

dpm said :

“Thumper I think the point being made was that Gary up in arms over 420 jobs at DoHA when the alternate Treasurer has flagged 12,000 jobs would go under a Coalition Government and thus the seeming hypocracy of that ‘up in arms-ness’.”

Yeah, I understand that, however, Humphries can at least speak out against it, given that they are his constituents. That he will get rolled by the party is another matter.

Imagine the uproar if he didn’t speak out against it?

I’ve heard him on 666 agreeing with his parties plan to axe 12k APS jobs…… That’s why it would be strange for him to flail his arms wildly about 420 jobs here, IMO.

Yes he has indeed supported it, happily perpetuating the party line.
There was a great tweet back in response to his tweet yesterday that said “So Gary that’s 11,580 jobs less than you’ll slash right?”

Stuffed if I can figure out in what universe 12,000 jobs cut is a “much more modest cut” than 480.

Gary is right on one thing – this is indeed “rank hypocrisy” – on his behalf.

In my personal opinion…

“Thumper I think the point being made was that Gary up in arms over 420 jobs at DoHA when the alternate Treasurer has flagged 12,000 jobs would go under a Coalition Government and thus the seeming hypocracy of that ‘up in arms-ness’.”

Yeah, I understand that, however, Humphries can at least speak out against it, given that they are his constituents. That he will get rolled by the party is another matter.

Imagine the uproar if he didn’t speak out against it?

I’ve heard him on 666 agreeing with his parties plan to axe 12k APS jobs…… That’s why it would be strange for him to flail his arms wildly about 420 jobs here, IMO.

Typical politician’s trick. Criticising someone else for failing to live up to standards that you yourself do not hold. Unless, of course, Gary doesn’t support Joe Hockey’s plans to cut 12,000 from the public sector?

Ummm, last time I looked the tories were in opposition.

Thumper I think the point being made was that Gary up in arms over 420 jobs at DoHA when the alternate Treasurer has flagged 12,000 jobs would go under a Coalition Government and thus the seeming hypocracy of that ‘up in arms-ness’.

Haveing worked at DoHA I’d say that the loss of 420 jobs won’t stop the Dept doing its job. The place is exceptionally top heavy.
You know, not in power. And for at least another couple of years I believe.

420 jobs going up in smoke.

sexynotsmart10:04 pm 12 Oct 11

Lolz@headline “420 jobs going at Health”

Could be a count or a description!

Typical politician’s trick. Criticising someone else for failing to live up to standards that you yourself do not hold. Unless, of course, Gary doesn’t support Joe Hockey’s plans to cut 12,000 from the public sector?

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