News

Great Koala National Park announcement: More questions than answers for Forestry Corp NSW staff

After the NSW Government’s announcements of the boundaries for the Great Koala National Park on Sunday 7 September, the CPSU NSW met with FCNSW executives on Monday 8 September to discuss the immediate implications for operations and our members.

What does this mean today?

The immediate effects of the moratorium are that operations within the identified boundaries will cease. However, members would be aware that nearly all operations within those boundaries are already on hiatus and have been so for some several months now.

Short term and longer term effects for members

These major announcements have the potential to affect a number of CPSU NSW members in the longer term. Right now there is little detail, apart from no job losses whilst the moratorium remains in place. This is cold comfort for our members who know major change is coming. However, it gives the CPSU NSW the time to seek proper discussions and negotiations with decision makers, both internal and external.

There are no answers on several the burning questions including:

1. the length of a moratorium and whether it can or will be truncated or extended
2. the impact to operations, depots, roles and positions
3. the details on any potential roles in NPWS
4. the capability for current State-Owned Corporation workers to transition to the Public Service with their entitlements intact
5. the administration of Voluntary Redundancy Programs, Expressions of Interest for VR or staff transfers
6. any transition assistance provided by FCNSW or the NSW Government
7. the current and forecast future financial position of FCNSW
8. the legislation required to be enacted – both State and Federal.

CPSU NSW meetings with NSW Government

The CPSU NSW’s Forestry Field Officers Association has a meeting booked with the Agriculture Minister on 19 September. It is hoped that the initial conversations with revolve around:

1. the types of Government assistance that will be provided to FCNSW and its government employees as part of the transition
2. who will pick up the tab for the current fragile financial circumstances of FCNSW as well as understanding the Government’s intentions for the operations of the Corporation into the future
3. mobility provisions of FCNSW employees being able to transition into public service roles.

With everything else in Forestry Corp NSW muddied by the Great Koala National Park announcement, one thing is clear this will be the beginning of major change for our members.

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