JOB fears have been raised by the Australian Services Union in the wake of City Hall’s budget plans to sell off $11 million of community-owned assets including the Old Geelong Gaol.
The budget plans follow a controversial report late last year by former premier Jeff Kennett’s CT Management Group recommending asset sales of $56 million.
According to the ASU, the asset sell-off will have “detrimental effects” on some council workers and “the community as a whole”.
“Selling off council assets – including the possible sale of golf courses and historic council buildings – could lead to job losses,” ASU assistant secretary Richard Duffy told the Independent.
“The main concern is that if assets are sold or jobs are contracted out, new enterprises could end up hiring people who do not contribute or live in the Geelong region at a lower wage rate, impacting the quality of services delivered while locals suffer.
“These types of decisions negate the supposed standpoint of councillors of mayor Lyons, who maintain that retaining and creating jobs in Geelong is of utmost importance.”
The ASU said asset sales, and reports of contracting out childcare services, totally contradicted mayor Darryn Lyons’ “supposed stance that saving jobs in the local community is paramount”.
The asset sell-off contrasts comments last October by former mayor Bruce Harwood that council coffers were “in a very strong financial position”.
CT Management’s report was ordered by ex-mayor Keith Fagg as an independent analysis of council finances. It suggested the possible sale of Old Geelong Gaol, Osborne House, Elcho Park, Queen’s Park and the Balyang par-three golf courses.
Mr Kennett earlier called for administrators to replace councillors if they were unable to work out governance issues related to council’s $7.2-million-a-year ward funding scheme – a scheme which has since been stopped by the State Government although the latest City budget apportioned $7 million to CBD works.
The CT Management commission by the City came under criticism by a former deputy mayor, Anthony Aitken, for being struck without a quotation process or competitive tendering. The ASU was “especially concerned” about childcare centres going to contractors and said workforce uncertainty was of great concern to ratepayers and employees alike.
“Council seem to be proposing wholesale changes without really considering the snowball affect it could have on so many,” Mr Duffy said.
“News that council will increase spending by more than $1 million for consultants for Geelong CBD planning will be a hard pill to swallow if any future changes jeopardise the employment of hard-working council employees.”
