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Public Service anger at Rann, Cabinet

Craig Bildstien
The Advertiser

SOUTH Australia will lose its "best and brightest" public servants unless the State Government stops berating its workforce, the Public Service Association claimed yesterday.
Workers say they are "angry, frustrated and disillusioned" with Premier Mike Rann and his Cabinet ministers.

A ballot of Public Service Association members shows "goodwill and support" under Labor has evaporated.

Instead, president Lindsay Oxlad said the Government was perceived to be "bitter and acrimonious".

Premier Mike Rann flatly rejects the claim, saying Mr Oxlad "has got this one wrong".

"I respect our professional public servants and enjoy working with them. on countless occasions I have praised and honoured them," he said.

However, the PSA claims the Government's attacks have contributed to severe staff shortages in most agencies.

These include administration, reception, payroll, audit, radiographers, Aboriginal education, health, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, engineers, solicitors, dental assistants, medical scientists and customer services.

Mr Oxlad said the Government "regularly and very publicly criticises its employees".

"It chastises them at every opportunity for its own failures to act decisively," he said.

PSA general-secretary Jan McMahon described Labor's attitude to the public service as "dismissive, confrontational and uncompromising".

"This has been a source of great disappointment and disenchantment across the public sector," she said.

"They are not happy with the Government, and neither should they be. it's attitude has created widespread anger, frustration and disillusionment."

a good time to get in? [no wonder every damn agency has a million and one positions available at the moment.]