POVB Executive Response to “Way Forward” proposal

Department's case for change

The department also states that cluster rostering, i.e. the elimination of roster clerks at each centre that currently have them and the creation of 5 roster clusters in regional offices servicing approximately 600 to 670 officers each will save the department $1 million per annum.

The POVB rejects their proposal and states it is flawed

• Kempsey has been proposed as the first centre for the use of PPT Officers because of its latest design and routine. They then propose to introduce PPT Officers around the State. This is how the department claims it will save $15M which the department claims is currently over budget. THE POVB REJECTS THIS PROPOSAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.

• The department states Kempsey will require 26 PPT Officers to function. There is considerable interest to work there by staff because of its location. The department will or should be able to attain the number of PPT to allow the centre to be staffed and run to the new concept.

The department would need enormous numbers of PPT Officers for this proposal to be implemented around the State, especially at the less attractive work locations, or areas where staff require full time employment not PPT to support their life styles.

Furthermore, they have not been prepared to state how much this would cost. The training costs for all these PPT Officers would be onerous on the department and ongoing.

Their proposal does not at any stage negate the need for restricted access protocols.

POVB Executive Proposal

• That all centres have their overtime allocation converted from hours to dollars and that restricted access protocols be immediately developed in consultation with staff and unions to achieve the demands of Treasury to stay on budget, and introduced by agreement on a trial basis.

• The POVB can prove that over the last 2 years we have demanded that the department develop this strategy to enable it to stay on budget.

• The POVB remains committed to responsible use of budget allocation being worked by fulltime officers.

• The POVB rejects the use of high numbers of PPT Officers used across all centres as inferior, unsafe and unattainable. The POVB also states that the department's proposal will be unable to deliver the standard of case management and programmes to the current high standard.

The POVB proposal can deliver this highly desirable outcome sought by Treasury without the need to train the enormous numbers of officers the department's proposal requires.

The department's proposal cannot guarantee they can even recruit the numbers needed under their proposal under the POVB proposal we can already deliver with no training of extra officers.

The department's proposal also fails to stand up to scrutiny, the first and most important test of any workplace reform if it's to be successful.

STOP PRESS

The PSA & POVB met with Minister Hatzistergos this morning, 10.9.03. The conference was very informative and conducted in a spirit of frankness and co-operation. The Minister made 3 important statements.

1. That the department has been required to look for 'efficiencies' across the board including non-uniformed areas.
2. That Treasury has imposed a deadline for reform of the budget blowouts.
3. The private prison operations are continually approaching government for work.

John Campbell, State Chair
Brian McCann, State Secretary
Paul Jones, State Vice Chair
Tony Howen, Country V/Chair

10 September 2003