UnionsWA and the Health Services Union of WA (HSUWA) have today commented on the release by the Barnett Government of its’ Mid-Year Financial Projections Statement.

HSUWA Secretary Dan Hill condemned the Barnett Governments plans to further cut the WA Health workforce by an additional 200 full-time equivalent staff, and said it would put even more pressure on an already overstretched system.

“WA’s health system is already struggling under the pressure caused by years of funding and staff cuts, with staff struggling to deliver the quality service that the community deserve and rightly expect,” said Mr Hill.

 “A cut in staff almost always leads to a cut in service”

“The State Government have delivered yet another body blow to the States health system, pushing it even closer to breaking point.” he said. 

Owen Whittle, Assistant Secretary, UnionsWA said:

“Overall employment is expected to decline by 1.5% in 2016/17 showing that the government has neglected to secure the future jobs for West Australians

“To have such a grim employment outlook at the end of one of our longest and richest booms is unforgivable.

“Selling off profitable public assets is not a long-term plan to reduce debt or address unemployment

“Over $400 million a year in revenue from Western Power goes to the WA Government for funding towards services such as local schools, hospitals and roads.

“Western Power is such a large and valuable public asset that chances are that privatisation would end up in the hands of an overseas based multinational corporation, meaning profits will go overseas.”