Page 372 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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assuring them of a smooth transition and a continuation of the current level of service, especially in relation to price, service location, methods and times.
A major consideration during the sale process has been consultation with the current trade waste employees and their union, the Transport Workers Union. Regular meetings have been held to keep them all informed of progress. Advice and counselling has been provided in regard to redeployment and redundancy opportunities, procedures and entitlements.
Importantly, as part of the sale agreement, Pacific Waste Management will invite applications from the current trade waste employees for two permanent positions and four casual positions. All placement opportunities will be explored in a consultative manner, and I would stress that all employees will be placed, through employment with Pacific Waste Management, redeployment within the Government Service, or voluntary redundancy offers.
I feel it is appropriate, Mr Speaker, to commend those involved in the sale process for the manner in which it has been executed. I would also commend the Trade Waste Service employees who have continued to operate the business without disruption during the sale period - a very responsible approach indeed. Finally, I would congratulate Pacific Waste Management on its acquisition and wish it well in its future operations of a very viable business resource. I table the following paper:
Trade Waste Service - Sale - Ministerial statement, 19 February 1991.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MRS GRASSBY (3.32): Mr Speaker, I rise to express my disgust at what we are witnessing here. Let us not beat around the bush in this matter. What we are seeing is the closure of government operations. In other words, we are witnessing the Liberal dominated Alliance Government trying out the Greiner Government's tactics. Mr Speaker, over the past few months it has become very clear to me and others that the Government is maintaining an obvious policy of deliberately running down the trade waste operations. And this was happening with the clear intention of selling off the assets of this operation some time in 1991.
The great problem with this, Mr Speaker, is that the Government's decision will not result in an improved service, but rather one that is more expensive to the consumer. Invariably, the result will be an increase in costs associated with waste management in the Territory, and this will be passed on to the consumer. And why, you may ask? The answer is simple: The sale of the trade waste operations will see the removal of a market stabiliser.
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