❓ The Premier outlines the government's policy to provide greater job security for public sector workers on fixed-term contracts or in casual employment, focusing on converting eligible positions to permanency within existing budget parameters.
AnsweredQoN 521Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES —
JOB SECURITY
521. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I refer to, and congratulate, the
McGowan Labor government's commitment to providing good, stable jobs
and delivering job security for thousands of public sector workers. Can the
Premier outline to the house how this government will provide security for
workers in casual roles, or those on fixed-term contracts; and, how will
providing permanency for public sector workers deliver improved services for
the community?
JOB SECURITY
521. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I refer to, and congratulate, the
McGowan Labor government's commitment to providing good, stable jobs
and delivering job security for thousands of public sector workers. Can the
Premier outline to the house how this government will provide security for
workers in casual roles, or those on fixed-term contracts; and, how will
providing permanency for public sector workers deliver improved services for
the community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka,
who I know cares deeply about the issue of job security.
Last week I was very pleased to
announce our new policy to ensure greater job security for public sector
workers on fixed-term contracts in excess of two years, or who were casually
employed. We know the public sector is incredibly important in Western Australia.
It employs 130 000 or so Western Australians, and delivers services across the
length and breadth of this state. We also know that the Langoulant report and
the service priority review pointed out the importance and capacity of our
public sector, and indicated that we needed to rebuild confidence and capacity
in the public sector. That is what last week's announcement, on top of
a range of other things this government has done, has ensured will occur.
Essentially, the public sector will
now go through all those people on those fixed-term contracts or in casual
employment, apply a number of criteria to them—particularly that the
funding backing their position is secure for the longer term—and if
they meet those criteria and a range of other criteria, they will be converted
to permanency, if that is what they would like. Currently, around 30 000 or 36 000
people are fixed term or casual—including 13 000 who initially meet the
two-year threshold. This will mean that within existing budget parameters there
will be greater security and permanency for those people in their employment.
Casual work and lack of security in
employment is a big issue in our country and Western Australia. This government
is doing something that was not done over the course of the last eight and a half
years—giving greater security of employment to those people who deliver
important roles in the public sector. That follows on from a range of other
initiatives we took. Remember, we reduced the number of government departments
to remove the siloed nature of the public sector that was in place before. We
delivered a pay rise that rewards the most to those who earn the least, and we
have delivered 10 days of family and domestic violence leave for public sector
workers; that is now being followed by the private sector. This is just another
step in us delivering better services, more security of employment, and
supporting our public sector in Western Australia.
who I know cares deeply about the issue of job security.
Last week I was very pleased to
announce our new policy to ensure greater job security for public sector
workers on fixed-term contracts in excess of two years, or who were casually
employed. We know the public sector is incredibly important in Western Australia.
It employs 130 000 or so Western Australians, and delivers services across the
length and breadth of this state. We also know that the Langoulant report and
the service priority review pointed out the importance and capacity of our
public sector, and indicated that we needed to rebuild confidence and capacity
in the public sector. That is what last week's announcement, on top of
a range of other things this government has done, has ensured will occur.
Essentially, the public sector will
now go through all those people on those fixed-term contracts or in casual
employment, apply a number of criteria to them—particularly that the
funding backing their position is secure for the longer term—and if
they meet those criteria and a range of other criteria, they will be converted
to permanency, if that is what they would like. Currently, around 30 000 or 36 000
people are fixed term or casual—including 13 000 who initially meet the
two-year threshold. This will mean that within existing budget parameters there
will be greater security and permanency for those people in their employment.
Casual work and lack of security in
employment is a big issue in our country and Western Australia. This government
is doing something that was not done over the course of the last eight and a half
years—giving greater security of employment to those people who deliver
important roles in the public sector. That follows on from a range of other
initiatives we took. Remember, we reduced the number of government departments
to remove the siloed nature of the public sector that was in place before. We
delivered a pay rise that rewards the most to those who earn the least, and we
have delivered 10 days of family and domestic violence leave for public sector
workers; that is now being followed by the private sector. This is just another
step in us delivering better services, more security of employment, and
supporting our public sector in Western Australia.
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