Crown Lands closed again

Staff at the office of Crown Lands in Nowra have today closed the doors again. Any members of the public trying to conduct business there are met by a locked front door, and a notice informing them that due to staff shortages and resulting industrial action, the office counter is closed.

Staff are refusing to:

1. Staff the office counter and/or act in any way as office receptionist.
2. Collect and/or open mail received at the office.
3. Bank any money received at the office.
4. Perform any "searches".
5. Respond in any way to requests for information or briefing notes from the minister of Lands or Government.

Members of the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) began this action yesterday in response to the failure of the Department of Lands to fill vacant positions.

John Cahill, General Secretary of the PSA, said "Our members at Nowra have had enough. They have been asking management to fill these important positions for many months.

"Staff at the office have been trying to deal with a mounting backlog of work, and management have done nothing.

"Instead, our members have had to do something to try to bring it under control.

"What they want is for management to recruit more staff so that they can provide a proper service to the South Coast public."