FROM: http://fbeu.net/2011/03/sitrep-no-122011/ The end of the Keneally Government
The state election this Saturday is a foregone conclusion, with predictions of the biggest defeat for Labor since the disastrous election of 1932. Forget the pollsters - for a cold, hard, and realistic analysis go to the bookies. Centrebet are paying $1.02 for a Coalition victory. It is almost inconceivable that this time next week Barry O'Farrell won't be NSW Premier. In a deeply worrying development there is the very real chance that the Coalition will not only win a massive majority in the lower house, but also in the Legislative Council - the upper house. With a working majority in both houses O'Farrell would be free to introduce anything he wished. And here lies the problem - no one really knows what he wants to do. The last twelve months has seen the Liberals run a small target strategy, keeping their policies as vague as possible and waiting for the Keneally Government to self-destruct. Smart politics. But while we don’t know much detail, it is clear that O'Farrell will be taking a razor to public sector expenditure. The Coalition has already signalled that it will scrap the Fire Service Levy on insurers that has served NSW well for 100 years. It has also confirmed a freeze on RFS staffing and expenditure, so FRNSW can expect no favours. So how to vote? The Union recommends that all members consider the impact an unfettered Coalition government will have upon our job, and our communities. The ALP has run NSW for the top end of town for 16 years. In spite of this, they have historically put more resources into the public sector – including the NSWFB - than the Coalition. In opposition they can be expected to publicly stand against Coalition cost cutting. The Greens are expected to produce their best performance yet. Their IR policy is by far the best of the three major parties, as is their commitment to the public sector. The best outcome we can hope for is a Legislative Council that can block the most brutal of the public sector cuts that are coming. It is on that basis that I urge all members to consider voting Green or ALP on Saturday. This is not about endorsing one party over another - it is about putting some brakes upon an incoming O’Farrell Government that will, inevitably, attack public services in NSW. Finally, it is likely that we are facing at least two terms of Coalition rule. If O'Farrell undertakes a reform agenda like Jeff Kennett did in Victoria in the nineties, or Nick Greiner did in NSW in the eighties, we cannot wait for a future change of government to defend our jobs and communities. Come next Monday we need to be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with other unionists to defend our public sector. If we are not prepared to back up those on the railways, on the ferries, in the schools and the hospitals then who will be left to stand up for us? [Written and authorised by the State Sec / FBEU]
FIRE BRIGADE EMPLOYEES' UNION
The state election this Saturday is a foregone conclusion, with predictions of the biggest defeat for Labor since the disastrous election of 1932. Forget the pollsters - for a cold, hard, and realistic analysis go to the bookies. Centrebet are paying $1.02 for a Coalition victory. It is almost inconceivable that this time next week Barry O'Farrell won't be NSW Premier. In a deeply worrying development there is the very real chance that the Coalition will not only win a massive majority in the lower house, but also in the Legislative Council - the upper house. With a working majority in both houses O'Farrell would be free to introduce anything he wished. And here lies the problem - no one really knows what he wants to do. The last twelve months has seen the Liberals run a small target strategy, keeping their policies as vague as possible and waiting for the Keneally Government to self-destruct. Smart politics. But while we don’t know much detail, it is clear that O'Farrell will be taking a razor to public sector expenditure. The Coalition has already signalled that it will scrap the Fire Service Levy on insurers that has served NSW well for 100 years. It has also confirmed a freeze on RFS staffing and expenditure, so FRNSW can expect no favours. So how to vote? The Union recommends that all members consider the impact an unfettered Coalition government will have upon our job, and our communities. The ALP has run NSW for the top end of town for 16 years. In spite of this, they have historically put more resources into the public sector – including the NSWFB - than the Coalition. In opposition they can be expected to publicly stand against Coalition cost cutting. The Greens are expected to produce their best performance yet. Their IR policy is by far the best of the three major parties, as is their commitment to the public sector. The best outcome we can hope for is a Legislative Council that can block the most brutal of the public sector cuts that are coming. It is on that basis that I urge all members to consider voting Green or ALP on Saturday. This is not about endorsing one party over another - it is about putting some brakes upon an incoming O’Farrell Government that will, inevitably, attack public services in NSW. Finally, it is likely that we are facing at least two terms of Coalition rule. If O'Farrell undertakes a reform agenda like Jeff Kennett did in Victoria in the nineties, or Nick Greiner did in NSW in the eighties, we cannot wait for a future change of government to defend our jobs and communities. Come next Monday we need to be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with other unionists to defend our public sector. If we are not prepared to back up those on the railways, on the ferries, in the schools and the hospitals then who will be left to stand up for us? [Written and authorised by the State Sec / FBEU]
DARIN SULLIVAN
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
FIRE BRIGADE EMPLOYEES' UNION
Latest from FBEU SITREP No. 12/2011
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