“We want 15 per cent plus additional conditions”
I notice the Community and Public Service Sector Union (CPSU) representing 200,000 of our handsomely paid Commonwealth bureaucrats have rejected a three-year 9 per cent offer and instead have countered with a 15 per cent increase, in addition to many new conditions including a four-day working week trial, more annual leave and safeguards against artificial intelligence (AI) driven job losses.
A brief analysis of the Federal Government’s situation seems dire given the total number of employees has increased over the past five years by 60,000, or 38 per cent, from 156,000 to 216,000, whilst Australia’s productivity growth has been flat lining for years. Meanwhile, cumulative inflation over the past five-years has jumped by around 24.6 per cent, so its little wonder real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita has gone backwards for most Australians.
With Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher assisting Dr Jim Chalmers in her role as Minister for Finance, it is not easy to see how the Government could have a laser focus on Australia’s productivity growth, given her early career was as an “Organiser for the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)”.
Further, what is the upside for the Minister of Finance/ Minister for the Public Service/ Minister of Government Services to focus on budget surpluses, or key performance indicators, or accountability or responsibility within those Ministries?
Chief Executive Officer of Montgomery Investment Management, David Buckland has over 40 years of industry experience.
David is a deeply knowledgeable and highly experienced financial services executive. Prior to joining Montgomery in 2012, David was CEO and Executive Director of Hunter Hall for 11 years, as well as a Director at JP Morgan in Sydney and London for eight years.
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