Cessnock Economy and Jobs
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Corrective Services. Is the Minister aware that the unemployment level in Cessnock is currently at 7 per cent, compared to the New South Wales unemployment average of 4.2 per cent? Is the Minister aware that the Cessnock Local Government Association is the most disadvantaged local government association when compared to neighbouring councils in the Hunter region and that this situation has been recently exacerbated by the announcement by Pacific Brands to close down its Cessnock factory?
In particular, is the Minister aware that a high percentage of staff at the Cessnock Correctional Centre are approaching retirement age and that the correctional officers have a high average length of service? Given the proposed plans to privatise the Cessnock Correctional Centre, will the Minister give assurances that correctional officers who will not be transferred to the new private facility will be given adequate training for new employment and that strategic policies focusing on the creation of jobs will be established to develop the local economy of Cessnock?
The Hon. John Robertson: I will deal with all those issues, but firstly I will correct the record. The Government is not privatising jails; we are involving the private sector in the operation of only two jails, as part of “The Way Forward” reforms. The reforms deal with a range of issues including entrenched work practices and static officer locations. The Government will address entrenched workplace practices and also the overtime budget blow-out of $43 million. Three employment options are available for Cessnock correctional officers. First, they have been offered voluntary redundancies, if they desire to go. Second, they have been offered relocation elsewhere throughout New South Wales with the Department of Corrective Services. Third, they have been offered, and will be offered as part of the tender process, preference of employment with the new operators if they desire to go across.
One of the first issues that I discussed with the commissioner when I was given this portfolio was what would happen to their jobs? This is a very important area and the Government takes jobs very seriously. We want to make sure that workers, particularly those in a regional location, are looked after. In fact, the Government proposes to expand Cessnock by another 250 beds. That will mean increased staffing numbers of prison officers in Cessnock. There is no risk about a loss of jobs as a result of private sector involvement and the operation of the Cessnock facility. Those jobs will be there if the workers wish to stay in the Cessnock area.