16 February 2018

PSA bulletin – Industrial Relations Commission relocation

The Government wants to move the Industrial If you agree that this is a bad move and will Relations Commission (IRC) to Parramatta as restrict everyone’s access to the industrial some sort of “symbol”. All this symbolic move will relations umpire you can help by contacting the do is make it harder for PSA members to get Premier, the Treasurer, the Attorney General and access to the IRC – and to industrial justice. the leader of the National Party to let them know. We run a lot of disputes for members who live and State in your email: “I believe plans by the NSW work outside of . These people often fly to Government to move the Industrial Relations Sydney to appear at the Commission. If the IRC Commission to Parramatta will make it harder for was in Parramatta, these members will have catch people, particularly those from regional areas of an earlier flight and take two trains to Parramatta, the state, to have their cases heard. I believe the potentially having to stay overnight. The same move has no support outside the Government and applies for NSW Government agency staff and is actively opposed by unions and employer management – an added cost to a Government groups alike.” that says it is fiscally sensible and doesn’t waste » – Premier of NSW taxpayers’ money. https://www.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the- The PSA has lodged a dispute to keep the IRC premier/ located in central Sydney and after two days of » – Treasurer and Minister for hearings, the Government still hasn’t given us a Industrial Relations concrete reason for the move. https://www.nsw.gov.au/your- The PSA doesn’t know of any employer group or government/ministers/treasurer-and-minister- union that supports the move and the Government for-industrial-relations/ hasn’t come up with any. » Mark Speakman – Attorney General We’ve written to the Treasurer and the Attorney https://www.nsw.gov.au/your- General asking for a meeting but only the government/ministers/attorney-general/ Treasurer agreed to meet with us. We met the » – Leader of the National Party Treasurer on 15 February to discuss our concerns https://www.nsw.gov.au/your- for PSA members working at the IRC and how the government/ministers/deputy-premier-minister- move will affect industrial relations in NSW. We for-regional-new-south-wales-minister-for- can say the Treasurer listened to our position, but skills-and-minister-for-small-business/ he didn’t say whether he agreed with the idea or not. You can also contact your local member and ask them to pass the message on – contact details

are HERE.

AUTHORISED BY STEWART LITTLE, GENERAL SECRETARY, PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NSW, 160 CLARENCE STREET SYDNEY