PUBLIC
SECTOR — WAGES
370. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to reports that the
government is under pressure to increase wages for the public sector, with
trade unions marching on Parliament and calling for wage increases to offset WA's
savage 7.6 per cent inflation rate, rather than the four per cent forecast in
the budget.
(1) Does the Premier agree with Community and Public
Sector Union–Civil Service Association of WA secretary Rikki
Hendon's claim that the 2.75 per cent wage rise offer falls well short
of the cost of living?
(2) Given the
state's inability to attract and retain essential health workers, is
the Premier considering a similar retention payment to that implemented in New
South Wales and Victoria?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
(1)–(2) Earlier this year, we announced a new wages policy—perhaps
in December last year or January this year—which at that point was the most generous of any
state of Australia. It offers a 2.5 per cent pay increase plus a $1 000 sign-on bonus, or a 2.5 per cent wage
increase plus a 0.25 per cent addition subject to negotiation. That is
the policy of the state government. The significant cost-of-living pressures
were recognised in the state budget. That is why we put in place a $400
electricity credit funded from the surplus. That has not added to debt. That
means that in overall terms, the cost of state government goods and services
will go down in the next financial year by 3.8 per cent. That is unique across
Australia. It ensures that everyone will receive the support and benefit of
these things.
One
other point that I would make is that over the last two years, New South Wales
and Victoria had mass outbreaks of COVID-19. That was no doubt very
difficult for their hospital systems. That was two years of incredible
difficulty—mass deaths, mass dislocation and some terribly difficult
things for health system workers to manage.
Obviously, we avoided that. There is a material difference between what
occurred in our hospitals and what the workforce here had to endure and what
occurred in New South Wales and Victoria.