❓ Ms. Davies questions the Treasurer about the government's pay offer to public sector workers, citing a protest. The Treasurer defends the offer, highlighting its benefits and acceptance by some groups.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR —
WAGES
528. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Treasurer:
I refer to the rally of government
frontline workers yesterday on the steps of Parliament House protesting the
government's pay offer.
(1) Will the
government reconsider its pay offer, given the almost universal rejection of
this offer?
(2) Why did the
Premier; Treasurer, who is responsible for setting the government's
wages policy, not front the rally?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
WAGES
528. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Treasurer:
I refer to the rally of government
frontline workers yesterday on the steps of Parliament House protesting the
government's pay offer.
(1) Will the
government reconsider its pay offer, given the almost universal rejection of
this offer?
(2) Why did the
Premier; Treasurer, who is responsible for setting the government's
wages policy, not front the rally?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
have a very capable Minister for Industrial Relations, who I thought did an
outstanding job out there yesterday speaking to the assembled members of the
public sector workforce. I saw him on the television. I probably would not wear
the sunglasses next time!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members! The joke is over, thank you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry, Madam
Speaker. I thought he did an outstanding job in addressing the workforce and
explaining the situation that we face.
The
pay policy is a $2 500 up-front payment for every public sector worker across
the board, 150 000 or thereabouts . On top of that, there will be a three
per cent per annum pay increase, and also on top of that the already legislated
half a per cent superannuation guarantee for each of the two years. Also on top
of that, we are not requiring any productivity offsets. For many members of the
workforce, particularly the lower paid, it is a pay increase in the first year
of around eight per cent. When we do a single payment that is the same for
everyone, whether they are a specialist doctor or a school cleaner, for
lower-paid workers it is a much higher percentage increase.
That is what we have offered. That
is actually more generous than in New South Wales and Victoria. On top of that,
as we saw recently in the Deloitte report, the cost of living in Western Australia
compared with the other states is significantly lower, particularly for
housing. This is a strong offer, and we would urge the workforce to take up the
opportunity of this arrangement. Just so members know, when the Leader of the
Opposition says it has met universal rejection, teachers have accepted it, as
have doctors and elements of the transport workforce. Those three groups have
already accepted it, which is many thousands of employees across the private
sector workforce.
Dr A.D. Buti : You misled
Parliament!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, got it
wrong!
have a very capable Minister for Industrial Relations, who I thought did an
outstanding job out there yesterday speaking to the assembled members of the
public sector workforce. I saw him on the television. I probably would not wear
the sunglasses next time!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members! The joke is over, thank you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry, Madam
Speaker. I thought he did an outstanding job in addressing the workforce and
explaining the situation that we face.
The
pay policy is a $2 500 up-front payment for every public sector worker across
the board, 150 000 or thereabouts . On top of that, there will be a three
per cent per annum pay increase, and also on top of that the already legislated
half a per cent superannuation guarantee for each of the two years. Also on top
of that, we are not requiring any productivity offsets. For many members of the
workforce, particularly the lower paid, it is a pay increase in the first year
of around eight per cent. When we do a single payment that is the same for
everyone, whether they are a specialist doctor or a school cleaner, for
lower-paid workers it is a much higher percentage increase.
That is what we have offered. That
is actually more generous than in New South Wales and Victoria. On top of that,
as we saw recently in the Deloitte report, the cost of living in Western Australia
compared with the other states is significantly lower, particularly for
housing. This is a strong offer, and we would urge the workforce to take up the
opportunity of this arrangement. Just so members know, when the Leader of the
Opposition says it has met universal rejection, teachers have accepted it, as
have doctors and elements of the transport workforce. Those three groups have
already accepted it, which is many thousands of employees across the private
sector workforce.
Dr A.D. Buti : You misled
Parliament!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, got it
wrong!
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