Dickson Must Take Responsibility for Frontline Cuts

Media Release 

Shadow National Parks Minister Bill Byrne says National Parks Minister Steve Dickson must take responsibility for any drop in service standards, particularly in regional areas resulting from the Newman government’s mass sackings and cuts to frontline services within his department.

Mr Byrne said a Courier-Mail report today had exploded the myth that Newman Government job cuts were not affecting frontline services.

“The information clearly shows the LNP government’s mass sackings are affecting frontline services despite what the Premier says to the contrary,” Mr Byrne said.

“The Premier clearly stated before the election that frontline positions would be protected, the information revealed today shows another broken election commitment by the LNP.

“Everyone but the LNP knows you cannot cut the jobs of people supporting frontline workers and not affect frontline services.

“This is a basic fact and most Queenslanders understand it. Yet the Premier and his Ministers pretend it is not true just as they say they have not sacked anyone despite axing 14,000 jobs.

“In Estimates hearings last week the Premier showed he had no idea how many actual people that figure of 14,000 represented.

“That shows what a cold-hearted approach the LNP takes to its own employees and workers in general.”

Mr Byrne said the Minister’s statement this morning shows he took no interest in the process of slashing jobs and continues to fob off responsibility to his senior bureaucrats.

“The fact remains his own department has identified the impact on frontline services of the jobs Mr Dickson’s has slashed.

“He is the Minister and he must take responsibility for the job cuts and any resultant drop in service standards.”