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Foley’s blow-out on public sector numbers |
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
More than 1 billion additional taxpayer dollars have been spent on employing an extra 16,393 public servants since the Rann Labor Government was elected in 2002.
Shadow Treasurer Steven Griffiths said that Treasurer Foley has been unable to control his spending and is responsible for the “blow-out” in public sector employee numbers, a contributing factor to the States $6.7 billion debt.
“The Rann Government know they have a spending problem that is why in December 2008 they announced that 1,600 public sector jobs would be cut under a Targeted Voluntary Separation Package scheme, with 1,200 jobs to go in 2009, Mr Griffiths said.
Separations are required to occur between 1 July and 30 September yet the State Government has failed to identify where the job cuts and savings will be made.
The government’s uncontrolled leadership on the issue is backed up by increasing numbers despite their announcement in 2006 of public sector employee caps.
In addition to Treasurer Foley’s reckless spending on public sector employees the State Government still hasn’t published a new report on public sector workforce data which was promised to be released by the end of July this year.
“I question the Rann Government’s transparency on the issue of public sector employee numbers as the most up to date data is now over two years old Mr Griffiths said.
“We want more detail about where these people are working and what they are doing, it is only fair that tax payers know where their money is being spent.
“Of the additional 16,393 public sector employees many are not employed within core public services and have been unbudgeted, placing enormous pressure on the Government’s budget. In March 2009 there were 416 public sector employees deemed “excess”, burdening the budget even further.
“Treasurer Foley’s loose control of the purse strings on public sector employee spending is evident. South Australian taxpayers deserve better than this, Mr Griffiths said.
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