ACT Government Targets 130 Jobs in Voluntary Redundancy Push: More Cuts Loom Across Directorates

The ACT Government has launched a voluntary redundancy program targeting 130 positions within the City and Environment Directorate (CED), with more cuts expected across other directorates as the territory grapples with budget constraints.

Key Details:

• The CED, which employs 4,200 staff, aims to reduce its workforce by 3 to 5 percent.
• Within hours of the announcement, over half of the target had already been applied for.
• Treasurer Chris Steel confirmed that all agencies are tasked with meeting budgets and focusing on sustainability.

Government Position:

• The redundancies are voluntary and will not impact essential services, according to Treasurer Steel.
• CED Director-General Dave Peffer stated that some roles, like bus drivers, are quarantined from cuts.
• The merger of agencies into CED revealed duplication, allowing streamlining without affecting frontline services.

Union Reaction:

• The Community Sector and Public Service Union (CPSU) criticized the move, calling it an "avaricious attack" on workers.
• CPSU ACT secretary Maddy Northam demanded transparency on which services might be cut.
• The union is already in a pay dispute with the government and plans to fight the redundancies.

Broader Context:

• The ACT public service has grown 30 percent since 2019, and the government aims to slow this growth.
• The redundancy program is part of a multi-year fiscal sustainability plan.

Concerns:

• Remaining staff may face increased workloads, as seen in Housing ACT.
• The union warns that cutting city services during a period of growth is counterproductive.