Qld unions claim win against job cuts

8 Sep 2012, 5:03 pm   -   Source: AAP
Queesland Treasurer Tim Nicholls has confirmed public service job cuts will be capped at 14,000. (AAP)

Queesland Treasurer Tim Nicholls has confirmed public service job cuts will be capped at 14,000. (AAP)

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls has confirmed public sector job cuts will be capped at 14,000 positions in next week's state budget.

Unions say the Queensland government's move to cap public sector job cuts is a victory in their war against Premier Campbell Newman's "slash-and-burn policies".

Treasurer Tim Nicholls announced on Saturday the cuts would be capped at 14,000 positions in next week's budget because the government had identified $600 million in savings.

Mr Nicholls said departments had cut costs by doing things like using two sides of paper on photocopiers and cutting back on the use of government vehicles.

"That means there are 6000 people fewer that will need to leave," Mr Nicholls told reporters.

"What we're saying is there's 14,000 full-time equivalent positions that will be removed ... we, in fact, think the number of people who leave will be fewer than that."

The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) welcomed the cap as a victory.

The Newman government was worried about negative opinion polls resulting from the wave of job losses, QCU president John Battams said.

"They don't want to get sacked at the next election," he told AAP.

"No one supports (Premier) Campbell Newman's slash-and-burn policies."

Shadow treasurer Curtis Pitt said Mr Nicholls shouldn't be seen as protecting 6000 jobs just because he originally floated a figure of 20,000.

"Trying to reassure people that it is OK he is firing 14,000 people is the height of arrogance," Mr Pitt said in a statement.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said the job cuts in Queensland were "an awful, ugly preview" of the "wrecking ball" that Tony Abbott would unleash across Australia if he won the next federal election.

"You can't sack thousands of health workers like Mr Newman is doing and not impact frontline services," Mr Swan said in a statement.

"We are extremely concerned about what this will mean for waiting times and patient care in Queensland."

Mr Swan accused the Newman government of "attempting to hide the truth about the state government finances with a dodgy audit".

"The reason these cuts are taking place is that Campbell Newman made $4 billion of unfunded promises and Queensland workers and services are now paying the price," he said.

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