State MPs urge PM to boost public sector jobs

TASMANIA’S Federal Labor MPs have written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull demanding a stop to public service job cuts in the state.

The four Lower House members and five senators have signed a letter to Mr Turnbull, calling on him to reverse cuts they say resulted in 400 job losses last year.

Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam and the State Government have announced a working group to attract public servants to the state under a decentralisation plan.

But the Labor members say Commonwealth public sector jobs have declined from 4239 in 2013 to the current 3468.

“Your Liberal colleagues in Tasmania talk a lot about de- centralising Commonwealth public service jobs to regional Australia, but disappointing evidence shows the opposite is happening in our state,” the MPs wrote.

“Commonwealth public service jobs aren’t coming to our state, they are declining at a rapid rate.”

The group said jobs had been lost in the Department of Defence, the Australian Taxation Office, the former Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the Australian Federal Police, Hobart Airport and the ABC.

The Australian Antarctic Division and CSIRO had lost hundreds of jobs, they said, while 100 visa processing positions were now at risk.

“Commonwealth public service jobs provide Tasmanians an opportunity for meaningful employment in jobs with good conditions and decent wages,” the letter said.

“The benefits flow through the broader Tasmanian economy to the community and small businesses.”

Senator Duniam said the Federal Government was examining the relocation of some jobs from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the state would fight for its fair share of the jobs. “These job losses have also seriously threatened Tasmania’s reputation as an international centre of Antarctic research,” he said.