DPI staff to fight for country communities

Staff at the Department of Primary Industry sites slated to close under recently announced State Government plans have vowed to fight for their communities and fight for their jobs.

Staff attended Public Service Association (PSA) meetings at Grafton, Temora, Deniliquin and Gosford to consider their options after hearing the proposal late last week.

"In every case there was an overwhelming sense that this Government was short changing rural communities", PSA Assistant General Secretary, Shane O'Brien said today.

The Government's proposal will take over 40 jobs from Grafton, approximately 17 from Temora, nearly 20 from Deniliquin and approximately 55 from Gosford.

"Our members have lived and worked in these communities for years. They know how important their salaries are to the towns they live in", Mr O'Brien said.

"It was unanimous across the four sites that it was time to stand up to the Government and keep services in Rural Communities. Each site has elected a campaign committee and actions will be planned in these and other affected towns over the coming weeks."

The local community actions will build up to be a mass protest in support of country communities and country services.

"It is hoped to get funding restored to DPI and keep jobs and services in the bush. The rally is being planned to take place outside state parliament on August 31st, the next full sitting of parliament", Mr O'Brien said.

The PSA local campaign committees will be contacting various stakeholder organisations to garner broad community support.

"We are not going to stand by while country communities are starved of funds just so Sydney trains run on time. We are going to defend our jobs and defend our Communities", Mr O'Brien said.