The Victorian government is set to cut about 350 jobs in its Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA). This change will impact various public sector workers, including those in Agriculture Victoria, Solar Victoria, and bushfire services.
Jiselle Hanna, secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), expressed deep concern. “This is devastating, especially for regional Victoria,” she said. Many skilled workers are at risk of losing their jobs.
Earlier this year, the government launched a review to control public sector spending. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes plans to save $3.3 billion by making the public service more efficient. With the state’s debt rising, the government may cut up to 3,000 jobs.
Hanna noted that these job cuts seem premature. “We haven’t seen the review yet, and it’s unclear why these cuts are necessary,” she said. She highlighted that these services are vital for local communities.
The CPSU is urging the government to consider other ways to save money without eliminating jobs. They proposed an alternative plan called the “gold review” that could save around $13 billion without cutting positions.
Critics, including Liberal MP Bev McArthur, suggest the government favors cuts in regional areas over Melbourne. “They don’t care about the services that should be provided to rural Victoria,” she said.
A recent survey by the CPSU found that 70% of workers are worried about job security and service quality following the announced cuts. Many are voicing their concerns on social media, with hashtags trending like #SaveOurJobs highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The government plans to meet with staff over the next month before implementing changes.
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job cuts, public sector, regional victoria, jobs, employment, public service, DEECA restructure, department of energy environment and climate action, community and public sector union
