Public sector review
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:30): My question is to the Treasurer. In February you stated no government frontline workers would be made redundant. However, your government has cut jobs, including fisheries officers and DEECA bushfire and forest services jobs, which are clearly frontline jobs in regional Victoria. Do you now concede frontline jobs have been cut?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:31): Thank you, Ms Bath, for your question. It is no secret that the government has been in conversations with departments to ensure that they are providing efficient and effective taxpayer services, and that includes protecting frontline services. We are a government that will always back the public sector in relation to the services that Victorians rely on, and we are not wavering from that, but in relation to conversations and the necessary ability to make sure that we are targeted in our responses, those conversations will continue both now and after Silver.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:31): I thank the minister for her response. Minister and Treasurer, would you agree that fisheries officers are frontline workers – yes or no?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:32): I think the way I will answer that question, Ms Bath, is as an opportunity to acknowledge the important work of fisheries Victoria, and I think particularly regional MPs have all been involved out there with fisheries Victoria staff, whether it is releasing fish, helping habitats or indeed learning about their enforcement activities. What has happened in the last couple of years – and I think that the minister responsible would be better placed to answer this, but you have directed it to me as Treasurer – is that there has been transition and change in relation to the way fisheries do their business, particularly in relation to changes with commercial fishing and the like, which has generated the opportunity to do what I would encourage every department do: look at the services they are providing. If there is a reduction in your work, then that should be something that is considered in relation to taxpayer –
Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, in February the minister stated no frontline workers would be cut. She has now not answered the question. I ask the President to bring the Treasurer back to the question.
The PRESIDENT: I believe the Treasurer was being relevant to the question within her remit.