The Tasmanian government's plan to shrink the state service moved a step closer on Monday when public service workers were told at an all-staff meeting that a number of jobs from each area had been identified to be abolished. The announcement follows the May budget, which targeted 250 job cuts at Building Tasmania (formerly the Department of State Growth), primarily through voluntary redundancies.
Over the weekend, Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed that 111 full-time workers had already taken redundancies and reiterated his commitment that none would be forced. However, at Monday's meeting, staff were shown a slide presentation outlining operational efficiencies and redundancy numbers, although the specific number of planned cuts for each area was only communicated verbally.
The CPSU and multiple sources have told the ABC that the number of positions to be abolished is understood to be roughly:
- Building Tasmania — 32
- Creative Industries, Sport and Visitor Economy — 23
- Department of Premier and Cabinet — 5
- Workers moving from Building Tasmania — 27
- Corporate Services — 23
The ABC has asked the government to confirm the exact figures. Staff who spoke to the ABC left the meeting confused and still unclear about how many jobs would go or how the process would work. It is understood that workers will be informed over the next few days which positions are being targeted, with the full restructure expected to be revealed on Wednesday afternoon.
CPSU secretary Thirza White criticised the way the information was delivered, saying the meeting was meant to provide certainty but instead created more confusion. "There was quite significant frustration at that meeting today that despite being promised information and delaying the deadline for that information three times that that information was only provided verbally," she said.
"This is a really stressful time. People need to be given the information in a written format so they can go away and consider it. Now, instead over the next two to three days, people will be tapped on the shoulder and told they are potentially now an identified employee. It's not the way we should be doing this and it makes a stressful situation even more stressful."
Ms White said her union's own calculations suggested the cuts would be significant. "We have done some back of the envelope calculations and at a minimum we're looking at 80 roles being cut and likely north of a hundred roles," she said. "These are huge cuts and agency leadership today did acknowledge that it's up to 10 per cent of the workforce in DPAC and Building Tasmania that will be directly impacted."
The slide show, seen by the ABC, addresses some of the workforce's questions. Under the heading "When will I know if I have a job in the new structure?" it says workers are "keen to have certainty" about future positions and that "we expect many of you will know by mid-late October whether you have a confirmed position in the new organisational structure." It also notes that just because a position does not appear in the proposed structure, it does not automatically mean that role is being removed.
Ms White challenged Premier Rockliff to keep his commitment of no forced redundancies, noting his public statements over the weekend. The government has not yet responded to requests for confirmation of the exact numbers.