The State government must step up and work with local government to ensure job security for Tasmanian council workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the Premier must elevate the issue to the National Cabinet and call on the Federal Government to expand access to the JobSeeker payment to all local government employees as this unprecedented crisis continues.
“Some council services, including sports and aquatic centres, visitor centres and museums, parking and childcare have had to be closed or are experiencing significantly reduced revenue as a result of coronavirus.
“Similar services in the private sector are eligible for JobKeeper. Local government needs support from the State Government so they don’t have to let staff go,” Ms White said.
“At a time like this, when so many Tasmanians have already lost their jobs and others are facing uncertainty and hardship, we need to do everything we can to save the jobs of these workers.
“Local government is an important employer across the state and particularly in regional Tasmania, delivering essential services including public health, waste management and environmental health.
“There is also the potential for councils to employ more people by taking on further roles to support their communities through this challenging period, including through helping to deliver COVID-19 public health and, importantly, community recovery measures.
“Local Government is not only essential to support communities now as we all do our best to manage the impact of this crisis, but they will be critical in the recovery phase right across the state.
“Last week, we won a guarantee from the Premier that every State Government worker will keep their jobs and have their wages, conditions and average weekly earnings maintained into the future.
“The government needs to follow the lead of South Australia and the Northern Territory and declare local government an essential service – bringing council workers into line with state public sector workers.
“We again call on Peter Gutwein to expand the criteria of the $150 million local government loan scheme in the stimulus package to support and enable councils to provide rates relief – for households and businesses.
“I urge the Premier to work with local government to ensure council staff keep their jobs.
“Too many people have already lost work in Tasmania and the government must do everything it can to save the jobs people still have.”
Rebecca White
Labor Leader
