The State Government has blasted media reports of job losses of up to 500 from Geelong public service ranks.
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise and the Community and Public Sector Union claimed the state-wide job loss figure, part of the government’s cost-cutting campaign, is closer to 5500 jobs, with almost 500 lost in Geelong and the southwest region.
A statement emailed by a Coalition government spokesperson angrily refuted the claims and said they should be verified before being publicised.
“The Victorian Coalition Government refutes the ridiculous claims regarding the extent of job losses in Geelong made by the CPSU.
“The Union has made these reckless claims as part of its political campaign against the government, and the Union is clearly happy to scare the Geelong community for its own purposes.
“Union management needs to consider the impact its scare tactics and game-playing has on real people and families in and around Geelong, following recent sad news about genuine job losses in the region.
“The number of voluntary redundancies being offered is a fraction of the overblown figure of 500 being bandied by the Union.
“Union claims the move has been made “under the radar” are completely false. Voluntary redundancies were publicly available and advertised, as well as having been the subject of government media releases.
“This is not the first time the Union has made wildly misleading claims. Last year it claimed 1000 jobs were to be lost in the Barwon South West region. Union claims should be verified before they are publicised.”
