Future Of Ballarat Jobs Uncertain Under Baillieu’s Cuts

Thousands of families in Ballarat are still facing an uncertain future as the Baillieu Government refuses to detail exactly which areas and positions will be impacted by its decision to cut 3600 public sector jobs.

It’s been revealed that 500 jobs are expected to be cut across the Department of Human Services, but employees in other public sector areas have still not been notified about what the cuts will mean for them.

Visiting Ballarat today, Leader of the Opposition Daniel Andrews joined Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford and Member for Ballarat West Sharon Knight to meet with a representative of the CPSU to discuss concerns about the job cuts.

“It’s been more than two months since the Baillieu Government announced it would sack 3600 workers, but we still don’t know which services will be hit by these cuts,” Mr Andrews said.

“In Ballarat there are more than 7000 people working in public sector jobs in a range of agencies and departments. These include Ambulance Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, Victoria Police, Ballarat Health Services, Parks Victoria, and the SES.

“Mr Baillieu claims frontline workers won’t be hit by the cuts – but he won’t reveal who is on his hit list.

“It’s hard to believe that these cuts won’t hurt important services such as health and education, when this is the same man who promised that if he was elected, there wouldn’t be any job cuts in the public sector.”

Mr Andrews said thousands of jobs were being lost across Victoria, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force figures for January revealing 15,500 full-time jobs were lost in the state in just one month.

“Mr Baillieu says he cares about people losing their jobs, yet he is happy to continue with his plan to get rid of 3600 workers,” he said. “These workers in Ballarat have the same pressures as everyone else. They have mortgages, school bills, and other costs – but because of Ted Baillieu they don’t have job certainty.

“Ted Baillieu needs to reveal who is on his hit list and who isn’t.”

Ms Pulford and Ms Knight said Ballarat families deserved better from the Baillieu Government.

“Thousands of families in Ballarat have spent the past few months wondering whether their jobs are safe – it’s time Mr Baillieu revealed where his cuts will be made,” Ms Pulford said.

“Those in the public sector work hard every day in a range of areas including educating our children, providing health care or keeping our streets safe, yet it’s clear the Baillieu Government doesn’t respect them,” Ms Knight said.