A formal offer including a two per cent pay increase for three years has today been provided to the public sector unions.
The Government’s offer will ensure wages keep pace with inflation and is consistent with wages policy that applies in the Australian Government and the NT and ACT Governments.
It is also higher than the 1.5 per cent currently applied in SA.
Tasmania has an excellent, dedicated and professional public sector who deserve to be, and are, well paid particularly when compared to the private sector.
We have worked hard to bring the budget back into balance since the 2014 election and the two per cent increase is affordable, fair, and reasonable.
Importantly, it will allow us to employ more nurses, doctors, teachers and frontline workers as we implement our long-term plan for Tasmania’s future.
If the wages cap increases by just one per cent to a three per cent pay rise, it would cost an additional $28 million, including superannuation, each and every year
That’s money that would reduce the investment in health, education and other frontline services for Tasmanians.
The Liberal Government’s priority in negotiating industrial agreements is to ensure better services and value to the community, which is affordable and part of the Government’s commitment to strong financial management.
The question for Labor is, if they want to scrap the two per cent, what services do they want to cut to pay for it?
We hope that the public sector will support this offer and look forward to their response.