Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Human Services spokesperson
The Premier and his Treasurer have conceded defeat on public sector wage negotiations and referred the matter to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission.
Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein have epically failed to negotiate in good faith with public servants. Referring the matter to the TIC on the day before a key wages negotiation is an admission of failure.
Meanwhile, overworked, underpaid and under resourced Child Safety officers feel they have no choice but to hold a stop work meeting out of disappointment and frustration with the government. This is a failure of leadership.
Child Safety workers have been offered a wage rise that is less than inflation and, as we know from all the data, the child safety system and at risk children are in a worse position now than when the Liberals came into office.
Case workers routinely have 15-20 at-risk children on their case load, with no relief in sight.
The situation in Child Safety is critical.
This year’s State Budget papers reveal extra resourcing that went in to Child Safety for the system ‘Redesign’ flat-lines in the out years.
This under resourced system is failing to ensure the children and families who come before Child Safety receive the attention and support they need.
The Child Safety System needs urgent attention. If the government can’t deal with wage sector negotiations, it must commit to better resourcing Child Safety as a priority.