"Child Protection Caseworkers"
- Details
- Category: Uncategorised
- Created: Tuesday, 14 August 2012 23:30
- Written by Alecomm2
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Family and Community Services. Given recent reports that a child tragically died in Wollongong after local caseworkers in the Minister's department were unable to follow up the case due to staff shortages, why is the Minister cutting 968 workers from Family and Community Services?
Ms PRU GOWARD: I thank the member for his question. Of course, the truth is that not a single case worker position has been cut in Wollongong. What we are looking at is a disgraceful and morally bankrupt campaign by a union conducting its own leadership elections to link the death of a child in Wollongong to industrial conditions. It is worthwhile drawing attention to the industrial conditions that have imposed on this office by a union with the support of the Opposition. As I have said, there has been no cut. In fact, the vacancy rate in the Wollongong office has been reduced by one-third. So how do we explain that three serious reports were not examined?
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wollongong and the member for Canterbury will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: We need to look at the restrictive work practices and the 19 work bans that have been imposed by the union that those opposite now look to for leadership. In fact, I have noticed that each time the union issues a press release within an hour those opposite follow up with comments using almost the same language. Whilst those opposite might have had a little bit of courage when in government, in opposition they have none. They have returned to being the servants of their real master: a bankrupt union movement.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wollongong will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: Members will be fascinated to learn that our caseworkers are so compromised in their work because of the 19 workplace conditions that have been imposed by the Public Service Association as part of its election campaign. I will now run through them.
Ms Linda Burney: How dare you—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Canterbury will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: How dare they? How dare a union that has imposed 19 work bans and a number of restrictive practices on our caseworkers multiply its moral hypocrisy by seeking to link a tragedy with the difficulties faced by caseworkers? Those difficulties and restrictions faced by our caseworker were imposed by that very union. I will now remind the House of those conditions. First, the Public Service Association has told its members to disregard casework procedures not approved by the union. Since when was the union the arbiter of and expert in casework practices? The Public Service Association has told its members to take no part in performance reviews. How are we supposed to know how to help our caseworkers if we cannot review their performance?
Mr John Robertson: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Order! Government members will come to order. The member for Monaro and the member for Wyong will come to order. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.
Mr John Robertson: My point of order is under Standing Order 129, relevance. The question specifically refers to Wollongong and job cuts. The question does not ask for the Minister's view on work bans and the role of the union. This is a very serious matter. I ask that the Minister be drawn back to the leave of the question.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister is being relevant to the question asked. It was a very specific question. The point of order is not upheld.
Ms PRU GOWARD: It is impossible to answer this question without referring to the work bans imposed on all offices, including the Wollongong office, by the Public Service Association. As I said, the allegation by the member opposite that there has been a reduction in the number of caseworkers is absolutely wrong. In fact, the vacancy rate has— [Time expired.] (SOURCE : HTTP://WWW.PARLIAMENT.NSW.GOV.AU/PROD/PARLMENT/HANSART.NSF/V3KEY/LA20120815011?OPEN&REFNAVID=HA8_1)
