The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has responded to the Prime Minister’s plans for the Australian Public Service, saying his view outlined this week was welcome but was inconsistent with the Government’s current policies.
The union said that while PM Scott Morrison’s desire to have policy settings enabling digital delivery, cross-collaboration and a service focus were welcome, it was “at odds with the ideological cuts to the Public Service”.
National Secretary of the CPSU, Nadine Flood said that getting digital delivery right was something the union’s members were already focused on, as were the policy settings to deliver good secure jobs and therefore a strong economy.
“All our members want to make our services better for Australians,” Ms Flood said.
“Our members will be happy to hear the influence of well-funded corporate groups will be reduced and that a service focus will focus on the needs of ordinary Australians who rely on Government services.”
However, she said there were some things in the Prime Minister’s speech that did not match the Government’s own policy settings so CPSU members would be waiting for action on those fronts.
“Our members are on the front lines of helping people to get their pensions, away from their families protecting our borders, processing our tax returns, running our courts and cultural institutions, doing cutting edge science to make our lives better,” Ms Flood said.
“We’re glad the Prime Minister wants to support their work with policy changes; the place to start is removing the wages and staffing caps.”
She agreed it was the role of Government to set the policy agenda then equip the Public Service to carry it out.
“Our members tell us that they sit next to the empty desks where their colleagues used to be while people wait to get help with their pensions,” Ms Flood said.
“You can’t have it both ways: Fewer staff means less work gets done,” she said.
“We want to work with Government to deliver this agenda, so let’s build a Public Service that can do this.”
