Public sector employees have raised concerns regarding the NSW government’s recent workforce management following significant job cuts across various departments. Specifically, WaterNSW announced the elimination of 300 positions due to an $80 million cash flow shortfall linked to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s water pricing decisions. Public Service Association General Secretary Stewart Little expressed alarm over the implications of these job losses, particularly in vital areas such as water safety, flood management, and disaster response.
Little articulated his disbelief at the government’s decision-making process, questioning how government officials could authorise cuts in such critical roles. He further highlighted the challenges of retaining skilled personnel in regional locations, warning that these roles, once lost, are unlikely to be filled again. Australian Services Union NSW Secretary Angus McFarland described the job cuts as “devastating,” underscoring that they jeopardise essential services related to water supply amidst escalating climate-related emergencies.
The NSW government has faced backlash for earlier reductions, which included 950 positions at Transport for NSW, 165 roles at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and 100 cuts from TAFE NSW. Although some staff members impacted by these reductions will be reallocated within the public sector, public service unions have expressed deep dissatisfaction.
A spokesperson for the Minns government connected these job losses to the previous Coalition government’s era, which reportedly allowed senior executive numbers to grow rapidly over its final four years. This resulted in substantial back office staff increases to support the burgeoning executive ranks. Reports indicate that Transport for NSW saw a 30% jump in senior management roles from 2021 to 2023.
In response to these cuts, union leaders like Little emphasised that while they support efficiency improvements, the government’s inability to mitigate the escalating number of senior executives was troubling. He pointed out that when the current government took office, the senior executive service numbered 4,300, with 1,300 in transport alone, far exceeding executives in health, education, and justice combined.
Despite the public sector remaining Australia’s largest employer, with a reported workforce increase of 2.7% to 391,451 full-time equivalent roles, concerns persist. The government claims to be addressing these issues by investing in more frontline workers, including health professionals, teachers, and police officers, while attempting to justify the ongoing presence of a substantial senior executive cadre. Union representatives argue that the overwhelming focus on executive roles over essential service positions reflects a failure in government priorities.