The State Government’s plan to centralise numerous WA Country Health Service (WACHS) staff to Perth and Bunbury is just the start of regional WA’s job neglect under Labor, according to National Party health spokesperson Hon Martin Aldridge MLC.
The Nationals understand 41 finance staff in the Great Southern, Mid West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara will be forced to relocate and apply for 33 positions centralised in the two locations.
Mr Aldridge said the McGowan Government’s decision to remove staff from regional WA was short-sighted.
“Removing jobs from regional WA defeats the purpose of regional development, and flies in the face of everything The Nationals achieved through Royalties for Regions,” he said.
“All we have heard from the Premier since the State election is how the Labor State Government is about creating local jobs – now it’s plain to see his rhetoric is nothing more than empty words.
“It is clear this government doesn’t understand regional WA, or the importance of regional jobs.”
Mr Aldridge said the Government’s decision dredged up bitter memories of the WA Labor’s failed ‘Office of Shared Services’ from 2005.
“Labor should have learned from the disastrous ‘Office of Shared Services’ policy, which was one of the greatest bungles in our State’s history, costing the State over $1 billion before its eventual abandonment,” he said.
“I call on the Government to reverse its decision and support regional job growth, rather than forcing workers to reapply for their own positions, albeit nine less on offer, and relocate their families.
“The Nationals will continue to pursue this issue to ensure regional jobs remain in regional WA.”