Better State news
Better State: Web site upgrade
It’s less than six months to the NSW election, so it’s time for an upgrade of the Better State web site.
As part of this upgrade the site will be undergoing essential maintenance this week.
We’re making the site work better for you.
Paul Doughty: Stop the Privatisation – NSW Not for Sale
Big business is pushing NSW to sell the lot
With an election looming, the NSW Business Chamber is lobbying our State politicians hard to allow the big end of town to buy everything.
They’ve already had some success, with politicians seeking to hand over billions of dollars worth of public services to private sector profits.
But the people of NSW don’t want cuts to public services, and want to stop the sell off!
John Cahill: Surplus little use as services and wages suffer
The NSW Government’s budget surplus averaging $800 million each year for the next four years would be better spent improving the public services that have been razed by years of cost cutting.
What a waste: we need services not surpluses
If we are to successfully implement the budget’s infrastructure plans and meet projected population increases across NSW, we’ll simply need more public sector workers.
As the NSW economy recovers and major infrastructure projects begin to take off, it is concerning that no efforts are being made by the Government to keep up with demand.
John Cahill: People power makes our state move forward
The NSW Government must commit to growing the public sector at next month’s budget if it is to keep up with the demand for essential services.
This is one of the key findings revealed in Keeping Pace: The Impact of Population Growth on NSW Public Services, a report launched at the PSA’s annual conference in Sydney today.
According to the independent report, the NSW Government will need to employ on average 4,700 extra public service workers each year over the next 20 years if it is to keep up with the demand for essential services.
Sue Walsh: Public service takes action on breastfeeding
A decision in the Industrial Relations Commission recently to allow all breastfeeding mothers in the public service lactation breaks and the right to a private space to express milk has been hailed as a breakthrough for women’s rights, and it is hoped more workplaces will follow suit.
Breastfeeding: more milk please
In the past, NSW government departments have been slow to catch on to the family-friendly policy, but the variation of the Crown Employees Award 2009 will make more women feel comfortable about breastfeeding after returning to work.
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Darin Sullivan: Does better services mean less wages?
During our last Award negotiations for NSW firefighters, I sat in a meeting with other FBEU officials, and NSW Treasury.
While discussing the limit placed on public sector wages, we floated one of many ideas that firefighters could implement to save the NSW government millions of dollars in school infrastructure through fire prevention. We suggested that a portion of that could be returned in wages.
Adam Kerslake: If we don’t stand up for better services, who will?
At the beginning of any campaign things can seem a little bit daunting. After all who are we to tell governments what they should or should not do?
Who are we to tell big business what they can and cannot buy?
My question to you is: if not us then who? That’s exactly how we felt at the start of the Your Rights at Work campaign and look what that achieved.
Mark Lennon: Our 5 steps to a Better State
Launching the Better State campaign in Newcastle today was a great experience.
Nurses, police officers, teachers, council workers and employees of utilities and government departments across the Hunter gathered to kick off a campaign that puts the public services essential to our growing state front and centre.
Better State: Will you cut my job? Your chance to ask Barry and Kristina
A year out from the State Election, Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell will fight it out in a televised debate on March 25.
This is a chance to put the spotlight on public services. The Daily Telegraph, which is co-hosting the event with Sky News, is inviting questions from readers – particularly those in marginal seats.
Here’s what we’d like Kristina Kenneally and Barry O’Farrell to answer:
Will you rule out selling off any more public assets?
Sheldon Sowter: Another tough year ahead for NSW public services
Imagine if in NSW we had a public service that was properly resourced, where good staff were appreciated, and positions weren’t left unfilled for months at a time.
As 2010 gets underway, I’m hoping we will finally see change in the way the State Government approaches public services.
Stop the Cell Off Rally: Time to invest in better services, not privatise them
Instead of seeing public services as a problem, as a drain on government finances, we need a government willing to do what is necessary to improve public services.