David Crisafulli reveals plans for Qld public servants as Peter Dutton threatens axe

The future of public servants has become a hot federal election campaign issue, and now Premier David Crisafulli has revealed his plans for Queensland’s public service.

Premier David Crisafulli reveals his plans for public servants amid Peter Dutton’s threats to slash thousands of jobs if elected. Picture Thomas Lisson

Premier David Crisafulli has revealed there will be “no changes to arrangements” for Queensland public servants after federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced plans to slash 41,000 Canberra jobs if elected prime minister.

The future of the public service has become a hot election issue during the federal election campaign and was raised in state parliament during question time on Tuesday.

Both Mr Crisafulli and Treasurer David Janetzki came under fire early, facing multiple questions from Opposition Leader Steven Miles about whether the government would support Mr Dutton’s plan to cut 41,000 public servants in Canberra and if they would rule out any changes to work-from-home arrangements.

Premier David Crisafulli during QLD state parliament question time. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

At first, both refused to directly answer, instead attacking Mr Miles, saying he was under “immense pressure” and it was “the wrong parliament to be asking this question”.

Mr Crisafulli went on to call him a “desperate Leader of the Opposition (who) will slink into this house and try and somehow inject himself into a federal campaign when he’s hanging on by a thread in his own job”.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor interjected with his own jab saying Mr Miles should work from home.

“By Christmas time he will be working from home,” Mr Crisafulli chimed in.

The Premier lectured Mr Miles to “do better”, before confirming there were no plans to change working from home arrangements.

“It’s a healthy working environment, because there’s no one presiding over a culture of fear,” he said.

“There’ll be no change to arrangements, and what else there won’t be … there’ll be no yelling. There’ll be no screaming. Without pointing the finger, I’ll say that it’s a healthy, a healthy working environment, because there’s no one presiding over a culture of fear.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles during state parliament on Tuesday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“And I say to the Queensland public service today, those opposite have tried to stoke fear there will be no changes to your work environment, aside from ministers who will treat you with respect and give you the vision you deserve.”

Mr Miles returned to the subject on Tuesday afternoon, saying Mr Crisafulli was “at odds with Peter Dutton’s plan”.

“So why couldn’t those opposite speak out against these planned cuts,” Mr Miles said.

“Of course we know Peter Dutton has form, he was the health minister that cut $50bn in funding from our hospitals, he was the health minister who tried to end bulk billing, he was the health minister who tried to make medicine more expensive.

“There is nothing scarier than the thought of this Premier and his puppet master Peter Dutton doing it all again.”

The Coalition said Mr Miles’ claim Dutton would cut 12,000 Queensland public servants was “another Labor lie”.

Originally published as David Crisafulli reveals plans for Qld public servants as Peter Dutton threatens axe