McGowan shake-up slashes jobs
FACED with a deteriorating budget position, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has unveiled a major shake-up of government departments and confirmed large numbers of rank and file public servants face the sack in coming months and years. The Premier (pictured) announced yesterday that he would reduce the number of departments from 41 to 25 by the middle of the year, with new department heads being instructed to deliver a 20% reduction in the 521 members making up the top levels of the public service. The Premier also flagged deeper job losses across the public service. He said the government was running a massive deficit and having to deal with a large level of debt. Department bosses were to be advised yesterday afternoon whether they had lost their jobs.