Services Every Victorian Needs - Stand Up 4 Our Services

Silver Review
The Silver review has not been released as its not due to report to Government until June 30th.  The focus of this Review is the structure of the broader public sector.  There are no proposals arising from it in the public domain and our request through FOI to get a copy of the interim report was rejected after it went to Cabinet.  The Treasurer has publicly expressed alarm at the number of Boards and Agencies despite them all being established by legislation so we presume the Treasurer was in the Parliament and voted for them. 

Discussions will be ongoing once the details are public.

Every job is important and if the Government is going to support workers and their families under this budget it needs to also include its own workforce. Comments by Government about their expectations while the content of this report remain hidden are unhelpful.

If you or your colleagues are concerned or affected help us prepare our response by forwarding any important info on your program.

Lapsing Programs from Budget 2025/26
The Treasurer brought down the 2025-2026 State Budget which signaled in the announcement that a number of lapsing programs will not be funded going forward.  No details of what specific programs are lapsing are contained in any details in the Budget.  CPSU therefore immediately wrote to all Departmental Secretaries requesting the full list of their lapsing programs from each portfolio and the numbers of staff affected.

I refer to the 2025-2026 Victorian Budget currently being presented by the Treasurer.

I am advised that you all have the list of programs that are to be cut or that are lapsing as a result of this budget.

I have been advised to request the full list from each of you for both your Departmental outlays and the agencies and programs under your portfolios.

I drew their attention to their obligations to consult with the union and its members under our various EBA's.

The responses are as follows and replicate a common theme;

DFFH - We will be taking some time to digest and analyse the decisions announced in the Budget. We need to work through this before we can start implementing any outcome.
DEECA - The Department is analysing the decisions and working to develop our approach to implementation. This will involve holistic consideration of the budget outcomes. We will ensure we meet the Policy requirements of public service employers in accordance with our obligations under the VPS Enterprise Agreement.
DE - My department will be taking the necessary time to analyse the decisions and work through a plan for implementing them. Over the coming weeks the Board will seek to minimise the impact of the savings on staff and maintain the balance of the department’s core functions and activities.  We expect to be able to share a proposed approach once it has been shaped and we will consult employees and the CPSU, in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, on workforce implications.
DGS will analyse the decisions in the Budget and work through a plan for implementing them. In implementing these decisions, we will consult employees and their representatives on any workforce implications that may arise. This consultation will occur in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.
DH - My department will be working through an analysis of the decisions and next steps including implementation planning – a priority is to carefully assess decisions that will cease or reduce funding for programs or functions of departments and agencies. In planning for implementation, we’ll consider the budget outcomes as a whole so as to ensure our workforce is aligned to the Government’s priorities and workforce impacts can be managed in a manner aligned to Government expectations.
DJCS - We will be taking some time to digest and analyse the decisions announced in the Budget. We need to work through this before we can start implementing any outcome.
DJSIR - The Department is taking the necessary time to analyse state budget decisions and work through a plan for implementing them. We will work through how it balances service delivery while delivering on government savings. We expect to be able to share a proposed approach and we will consult employees and the CPSU, in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, on workforce implications.
DPC - Now that the budget outcomes have been delivered, the Department will take the necessary time to thoroughly analyse the decisions and develop a considered plan for their implementation. This will allow us to ensure that our workforce remains aligned with the government’s priorities and that any workforce impacts are managed in a manner consistent with government expectations.
As we progress with the implementation of these decisions, I remain committed to consulting employees and their representatives on workforce implications. This consultation will be conducted in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.  Where the implementation of these budget decisions does result in workforce impacts, I understand that the Government has recently endorsed the continuation of the Implementing Budget Reprioritisations in the Victorian Public Service Policy for a further 12 months, subject to consultation on its final terms with CPSU.
DTF - I will be working with my senior executive and the leadership of our attached agencies on implementation of relevant initiatives. As we do so, we will consult employees and their representatives on any workforce implications. This consultation will occur in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.  Where implementation of these decisions does have workforce impacts, Government has recently endorsed the continuation of the Implementing Budget Reprioritisations in the Victorian Public Service Policy (Policy) for a further 12 months, subject to consultation on its final terms with CPSU.
DTP - Now that the budget outcomes have been delivered, the Department will take the necessary time to thoroughly analyse the decisions and develop a considered plan for their implementation. This will allow us to ensure that our workforce remains aligned with the government’s priorities and that any workforce impacts are managed in a manner consistent with government expectations.  As we progress with the implementation of these decisions, I remain committed to consulting employees and their representatives on workforce implications. This consultation will be conducted in accordance with our obligations under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.

A clear absence of details.

Almost a third of the 518 projects funded in last year’s budget have been delayed by at least three months. An analysis of state budget papers* found 171 projects, referred to as “revised” completion dates. Many of them had already been delayed in previous budgets. (*AGE)

PS Unions Rally to Save our Services

Why is it that Governments see public servants as something only to be costed rather than valued.

Hundreds of CPSU Vic members, supported by members from all Victorian public sector unions rallied outside the offices of the Premier and the Treasurer, where Cabinet was meeting, to provide a public response to the Treasurers ambush announcement that 3,000 jobs are to be cut from the public service.  Well done to all members who attended.  watch our video on social media

We rallied because the Treasurer didn’t bother to discuss her decision to pre-empt the outcome of the review when making the announcement to media outlets to cut 3,000 jobs.

We rallied to make it clear and unequivocal to the Cabinet that what was done, and the way it was done, does not wash with the public service workforce.

Unions from across the public sector attended to show that this behaviour is not acceptable and to stand up for our public services and importantly our members who deliver them.

We expected this Government to support public delivery of public services.

Instead, they have played the two classes of employees' card and fallen for the Treasury trick that deliberately spruiks the tired old public service bash rhetoric.

An employer that attacks its own employees and reverts to somehow blaming them for the cost blowouts in programs is cowardly and dishonest.

The Bailleau Government fell for this in 2011 and they lost Government in 2014.

Yet it seems this Government have started to sing from the same song book.

Why is it that Governments only see public servants as something only to be costed rather than valued.

The Treasurer announced she had engaged consultants to undertake a review of the VPS to look for so called “efficiencies”.

This is on top of the never-ending use of consultants across the Service to do VPS work at a significantly higher cost.

The first efficiency surely is staring government in the face - stop using consultants to contract out your thinking and our work.

There are only about 8,000 roles across the state doing the planning, the policy work, project management, procurement, public accountability, and of course payroll, supporting the Government’s legislative and implementation agenda.

But they are constantly subjected to pejoratively being labelled “bureaucrats” who aren’t frontline and the community is led to think these jobs are expendable.

Every job that goes undermines the government’s ability to deliver on its agenda and maintain quality service delivery

These types of announcements destabilise and demoralise public service workplaces.

Our workplaces have already been through three years of restructures.

The Government should take the job cuts threat off the table.

It should work constructively to protect the workforce and to maintain service delivery.

The population is growing at 1.2% to 2% a year and it’s expected to grow to 9 million by 2045. In just twenty years.

Victoria is the place people want to be and that’s why there’s the bigbuild to prepare our infrastructure but demand for quality services is also growing and with Victoria having the lowest public workforce per capita of any state or territory you have to also build our people and their capabilities.

What else you can do:

Write to your local MP and advise them you are ESSENTIAL, and you vote!

In a short email to your local MP, write to them as a constituent advising the work you do is essential and if your work stops not only will it lead to higher unemployment, but explain how your job not existing would negatively impact Victorians. 

We encourage all members to contact their local State MP and ask them to stand up for our services, and our jobs.

 

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Yours in unity

Save Our Services protest:

Monday 3 March, 1 pm

1 Treasury Place (outside)

You may have seen reports in the media today that the Premier and the Treasurer have announced an “independent” review of the Victorian Public Service, and in the next breath pre-empted the outcome of the review by revealing their expectation that thousands of public service jobs would be cut.

The VPS has returned more than $5 billion to the state's coffers in the last three Budgets – there is literally nothing left on the bone to cut.

At the same time, population growth means the demand for services grows too. Who will be left to provide services if the government’s job slashing plans go ahead?

And while we have seen a very small interest rate cut, we are still in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Sacking thousands of people amid this crisis is unconscionable.

Playing frontline/backline distinctions is insulting as everyone equally contributes to the delivery of our public services.

Fighting back requires strength. If any of your workmates are not in the union, please ask them to join now.

Join us at our
Save Our Services protest:

Monday 3 March, 1 pm

1 Treasury Place (outside)

Yours in unity

KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

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