Thousands of workers may be axed in Allan government’s public sector purge

The Allan government has been given three weeks to reveal its plans for a public sector overhaul, as fears grow that up to 6500 jobs could be axed in a massive cost-cutting plan.

The Allan government has been given a three week deadline to release its blueprint for thousands of public sector job cuts aimed at saving billions of dollars from its budget bottom line.

It comes as the state’s 55,000-strong public sector unions brace for a slash and burn restructure of government departments the government says will see up to 3000 jobs lost.

However it has been estimated up to 12 per cent of the workforce— closer to 6500 workers — could be axed in the major overhaul.

The government has been working on plans to slash the service since at least February, before launching its independent review into the public service headed by Helen Silver — a former Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary under the Brumby and Baillieu governments.

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has repeatedly refused to put a timeline on the release of the report into the public service. Picture: Supplied

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes was last month handed Ms Silver’s final report, which she said would be publicly released alongside the government’s response.

But in parliament this week the state opposition successfully banded with the Greens and a coalition of crossbench MPs to pass a motion forcing the government’s hand to make the review public within a three week timeline.

It requires the government to release all copies and versions of the Silver review provided to the government at any point, as well as any related briefings or notes associated with the Silver review.

Leader of the opposition in the upper house David Davis believes Victorians are entitled to see the report on the public service. Picture: David Geraghty

Opposition leader in the upper house David Davis said any further delays on the release of the review would be unacceptable.

“(Ms Silver) is making seminal recommendations, which will have a big impact on the state’s finances, the state’s public service and the lives of individuals,” he said.

“I believe Victorian communities are entitled to see what those recommendations are and to see them forthwith.

“The government is very tardy and coy on this matter, and they are coy for a reason.

“I think the community is very nervous about the government’s response here and where they are heading.

“We understand the budgetary problems that the government has got itself and the state into. There is no question of the scale of the budgetary problems.

“The Treasurer can provide these documents. She can provide them quickly. She can provide them quite reasonably and quickly.”

It has been estimated closer to 6500 workers could lose their jobs in the major overhaul of the public service.

Ms Symes has repeatedly refused to put a timeline on the release of the review, prompting widespread concern among public sector workers.

A significant restructure was announced inside the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions this week, with some workers advised their roles were now redundant.

Consultations about organisational restructures have also already commenced inside the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victorian Public Sector Commission and Safer Care Victoria.

Public sector insiders said these consultations were related to this year’s state budget and separate to any response to the Silver Review.

Supporting the urgent release of the review Greens MP Aiv Puglielli said it was vital to give certainty to people within the public sector.

“It is important to provide certainty to the community about potential programs that may be cut, effectively, as a result of changes that are recommended in this review process,” he said.

“While the government may see fit to bring forward this information otherwise at a time of its own choosing, many I think here would argue that the workers in the sector want to see relevant information brought forward as soon as possible so that they understand what the implications are going to be for them, for the programs that they work within and for the services that Victorians rely upon.”

Asked for an update or planned timeline for release of the Silver Review, a government spokesperson refused to say.

“As part of this year’s budget, all departments have been instructed to make sure they are focusing on reducing waste, operating within their means and investing where it matters most: the frontline,” she said.