The unions have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt they are more interested in saving face than their members' jobs.
We have been clear in our position – any offer which provides less than $50 million in savings over a full year would require a further reduction in FTEs to ensure the integrity of the Budget.
Yesterday, the Government put it to the unions that it would agree with a 12-month pay freeze, which would have provided around $30 million in savings so long as the unions all agreed to sign up, and saved 300 of the 500 embedded Labor-Green job cuts. The unions rejected that proposal.
The unions, Labor and the Greens have proven they are more interested in playing politics than public servants or the state's finances.
The Budget bottom line is not negotiable, we simply must fix the Budget mess, and we are determined to do just that. The unions, Labor and the Greens want to delay, which can only mean much harsher consequences for service delivery in the future.
The simple fact is if we accepted yesterday's recommendations, it would have left around a $70 million dollar shortfall in the Budget, which is unacceptable. The Budget has passed both Houses of Parliament and it is not negotiable.
We are committed to fixing the Budget mess so we can afford to deliver essential services in future and we are resolute in this task, as Tasmanians would expect of a strong government.
GOVERNMENT OPTION 1 | GOVERNMENT OPTION 2 | GOVERNMENT OPTION 3 | UNION PROPOSAL | TIC RECOMMENDATION |
12 month pay freeze | 18 month pay freeze | 12 month pay freeze | 6 month pay freeze | 12 month pay freeze |
No incremental progression | Incremental progression | Incremental progression | Incremental progression | Incremental progression |
No reduction in FTEs | No reduction in FTEs | Reduction of 200 FTEs | No reduction in FTEs | No reduction in FTEs |
SAVINGS: $50 million per year | SAVINGS: $50 million per year | SAVINGS: $50 million per year | SAVINGS: $17 million in 2014-15 only | SAVINGS: $30 million per year |
SHORTFALL over 4 yrs: $0 | SHORTFALL over 4 yrs: $0 | SHORTFALL over 4 yrs: $0 | SHORTFALL over 4 yrs: $160 million | SHORTFALL over 4 yrs: $70 million |