Public sector union takes on Greens over transport reforms

VICTORIA'S leading public sector union has attacked the Greens over plans to axe public transport bureaucrats.

VICTORIA'S leading public sector union has attacked the Greens over plans to axe public transport bureaucrats.

It has given them until the end of the week to change the plans and apologise to workers.

The Community and Public Sector Union says the Greens' policy to cut six government transport departments and create one single public transport authority is "disgraceful" and is "playing with people's livelihoods".

The criticism comes as the Greens confirmed their intention to shut down Victoria's major supplier of electricity in the next term of parliament and stop the roll-out of semi-automatic weapons to police.

As part of an energy policy released yesterday, the Greens will set a cap on pollution, fine power stations that exceed limits, shut down Hazelwood power station and ban coal exports.

"The Victorian Greens' policy is to move beyond coal and cut our emissions to zero-net as fast as we possibly can, but in any case no later than 2050, with a minimum 40 per cent reduction by 2020," the plan says.

"To achieve this, we will use the Environment Protection Act 1970 to license coal-fired power stations and set a cap on their pollution."

The party told the Victorian Police Association, in its submission to its election guide, it was against the roll-out of semi-automatic weapons and Tasers to all police officers.

"The Greens do not support the issuing of semi-automatic weapons to all operational police," the party wrote.

"Our policy is that the use of all weapons, including Tasers, should be restricted to specialist officers who have undergone additional specialist training."

CPSU state secretary Karen Batt yesterday said the Greens' "public transport thought bubble" would leave hundreds of public sector workers without livelihoods. "A clarification and an apology for the cheap bureaucrat bash is immediately demanded."

Greens MP Greg Barber said the party would be "happy to clarify" any parts of the policy for the union.