Senate inquiry into state public servant sackings
THE Senate will investigate ways to protect state government-employed public servants from job cuts, after thousands were sacked across Queensland and New South Wales.
An inquiry was launched into the sackings, and how the Federal Government could potentially intervene to protect bureaucrats' jobs after the mass sackings by conservative state governments this year.
Greens' deputy leader Adam Bandt said the inquiry, instituted by the left-wing party, would take action where the Commonwealth had not.
"So far the Federal Government's response has been limited," he said.
"The Commonwealth could be doing much more to protect state public sector employees across the country and this inquiry will explore how."
Despite a recent review of the Fair Work Act being completed, Mr Bandt said the act needed to again be assessed on whether it was adequately protecting bureaucrats' jobs.
Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said the inquiry was an effort to ensure state government employees had the same workplace rights as their federal counterparts.
"Campbell Newman has slashed 14,000 Queensland public servants despite pre-election reassurances that he wouldn't," she said.
"These people provide crucial services to the Queensland public, and they deserve better."
It is likely the inquiry will be run by the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations committee, but has not yet been officially opened for consultation.
