A message from the General Secretary
THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY by Nev Kitchin
Congratulations to all PSA members for your unwavering dedication and commitment to public service. You are at the forefront of keeping South Australians safe, and ensuring the services our community members rely on every day are being delivered effectively.
damaging because they strike at the heart of our democracy. Wealthy overseas corporations – such as those to whom successive South Australian governments have handed over billions of dollars and responsibility for essential services - have no interest in the health and civilisation of our society. Just look at the damage being done in Victoria from the privatisation of COVID security.
The PSA has always believed a wellresourced public sector is the foundation of a fair and civilised society - and a strong economy.
Governments who are so committed to privatisations must be accountable. That is why the PSA is calling for all political parties to support a parliamentary inquiry into privatisation. It is important that governments are open and transparent about protecting the public interest when it comes to the provision of public services.
All South Australians must have equitable access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality public services.
The state government must be at the forefront of leading the economic recovery from the pandemic.
Health care, public transport, roads, education, and a vast range of social services are all services our community relies on – especially our most vulnerable.
If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us one thing it is that the community relies most on public services.
The government must ensure our community members receive these services. Transparency, openness, engagement and accountability are all hallmarks of a democratic society. Privatisations – especially through deals cloaked under a veil of secrecy – are www.psaofsa.asn.au
Investment in public sector services is fundamental to leading us out of economic crisis. Investments in our social infrastructure are just as important as in our material infrastructure. Investing in aged care, care for people with disabilities, childcare, education and health are all just as important as building roads and bridges.
Just imagine all the improvements to community facilities and affordable housing the government could create and improve. The government must lead our economic recovery through investment in the public sector rather than simply outsourcing it to the private sector. Fair and just working arrangements for public servants are fundamental to the provision of public services. That’s why our members need enterprise agreements built on respect and dignity. The PSA will not just continue to campaign for a well-resourced public sector – we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of working conditions that respect and support our members while they support our community. Members have been clear and consistent in the expression of their priorities for a new salaried agreement. Job security is PSA members’ highest priority along with protecting and maintaining hard-won conditions. Members are resolute in opposing the government’s lazy agenda of slashing conditions and making it easier to sack people. The public sector is the heart of a just, democratic and civilised society. And we will do all we can to protect it.
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