Victorian public servant roles to be axed in cost-cutting measures
Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy claims Victoria's cost-cutting measures including axing thousands of public servants are due to some 'hard decisions'.
The Labor state government will be axing the jobs despite federal Labor campaigning hard against Peter Dutton and the Liberals' pledge to cut roles in Canberra public servants.
'The Victorian budget and the federal budget were in very different places,' Mr Conroy said.
'Jim Chalmers has been able to run two budget surpluses over the last three budgets, whereas the Victorian government has had commitments to huge infrastructure projects, and they've had a much looser budgetary situation.'
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"He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." A state election is inching closer as an embattled premier refuses to stand down to spare voters the pain of returning to the polls. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is preparing to call an early election as soon as Tuesday after narrowly losing a no-confidence motion in state parliament. But he is forging ahead with plans to recall parliament on Tuesday to pass a bill to ensure government workers can keep getting paid, before asking Governor Barbara Baker to call an election. She could approve his request or ask another Liberal MP or Labor leader Dean Winter to try to form minority government. Mr Rockliff said an election date would likely be set this week and confirmed he would lead the party to the poll. 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"He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home."
