Cuts Hurt campaign heats up ahead of MYEFO mini-budget

CPSU delegates have hit the phones in recent weeks urging ALP Senators and Members of Parliament to get behind the Cuts Hurt campaign and show support for public sector jobs and services.

The purpose of the calls was to put your concerns directly to politicians before the Government finalised its half yearly mini-budget - the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

According to media reports, MYEFO may be released as soon as next week. Given the current economic situation, MYEFO is expected to contain tough measures although Finance Minister Penny Wong has said recently the savings should come from "non-staffing efficiencies" and that the Government won't "focus on slashing jobs in the way the Coalition does."

CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said "I would like to say a big thank you to the many delegates who have been making calls to ALP politicians in support of the Cuts Hurt campaign. I have been lobbying in Canberra recently and the calls are having a big impact. It is great that MPs and Senators are hearing directly from public sector workers about the pressure that budget cuts are putting on already stretched offices. Politicians need to know that you can't cut budgets without having an impact on jobs and services," said Ms Flood.

Putting yourself in the picture
As well as making calls to ALP politicians, CPSU members and delegates have been throwing themselves into a range of other campaign activities including:

• attending workplace and community meetings - check our recent Albury town meeting here
• sharing the Cuts Hurt campaign our video, find it on the Cuts Hurt site here or on YouTube here.
• uploading Cuts Hurt photos - checkout the gallery and add your photo here
• visiting local ALP and Greens MPs and encouraging them to support public sector jobs and service and oppose cuts

What you can do
Right now we are talking to workplace delegates about how existing budget cuts and the efficiency dividend are affecting staffing, workloads and waiting times in your workplace. We have been using that information with the Government, agencies and the media to argue against further cuts. Please pass on any concerns you have to your workplace delegate. If they are not available, you can complete our confidential online survey here.

More information
www.cutshurt.com.au  

In the news
Weather warnings as cutbacks could put lives at risk: Seven News