Post by Banjo on Jul 15, 2012 15:36:39 GMT 7
Gillard pledges extra $1bn for social workers
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has addressed the NSW Labor Party conference, promising an additional $1 billion to fund a pay rise for workers in the community and social service sector.
Ms Gillard used her address to make the announcement, while also listing Labor's achievements in industrial relations, carbon pricing and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Community and social workers are due to receive pay rises of between 23 and 45 per cent from December.
Ms Gillard says the total federal contribution will now be around $3 billion.
"Every day they're hard at work, leading teams of counselling professionals, taking charge of homes for homeless men and the mentally ill, running women's refuges, disability support centres and family support services," she said.
"Put simply, Australia cannot ever be a fair nation without the efforts of these workers."
Ms Gillard called on state and territory governments around Australia "to do the right thing" and contribute to the funding.
Australian Services Union secretary Sally McManus says the announcement should act as a wake-up call to New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell.
"O'Farrell said 'Look, you know we'll pay our fair share', but they're refusing to put one cent on the table," Ms McManus said.
"So for us that could mean many things: it could mean that they're wanting make cutbacks to services as a way of funding it.
"So until we see that money like we now have from the Federal Government, we can have no confidence that the money will be there to pay the wages."
But Mr O'Farrell says his government is still committed to the funding and that he is glad the Prime Minister has put a dollar figure on the Federal Government's contribution.
www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-15/gillard-pledges-extra-funds-for-social-workers/4131562
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has addressed the NSW Labor Party conference, promising an additional $1 billion to fund a pay rise for workers in the community and social service sector.
Ms Gillard used her address to make the announcement, while also listing Labor's achievements in industrial relations, carbon pricing and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Community and social workers are due to receive pay rises of between 23 and 45 per cent from December.
Ms Gillard says the total federal contribution will now be around $3 billion.
"Every day they're hard at work, leading teams of counselling professionals, taking charge of homes for homeless men and the mentally ill, running women's refuges, disability support centres and family support services," she said.
"Put simply, Australia cannot ever be a fair nation without the efforts of these workers."
Ms Gillard called on state and territory governments around Australia "to do the right thing" and contribute to the funding.
Australian Services Union secretary Sally McManus says the announcement should act as a wake-up call to New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell.
"O'Farrell said 'Look, you know we'll pay our fair share', but they're refusing to put one cent on the table," Ms McManus said.
"So for us that could mean many things: it could mean that they're wanting make cutbacks to services as a way of funding it.
"So until we see that money like we now have from the Federal Government, we can have no confidence that the money will be there to pay the wages."
But Mr O'Farrell says his government is still committed to the funding and that he is glad the Prime Minister has put a dollar figure on the Federal Government's contribution.
www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-15/gillard-pledges-extra-funds-for-social-workers/4131562