NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has revealed a $4 million hole in his department’s research budget due to the ongoing drought.
With his opposition counterpart in Orange yesterday to further highlight the extent of job losses within the Department of Primary Industries, Mr Macdonald has revealed the Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) research levies have dropped by up to 61 per cent.
GRDC’s contribution is down by $1 million, RIRDC is down $1.3 million and MLA is contributing $1.7 million less in research levies.
Mr Macdonald said the drop in levies meant less money for scientific research and had caused the DPI to lay off a number of staff.
“Everyone knows our crops in the last few years have been down,” Mr Macdonald said yesterday.
He said most cuts had come from corporate services and not from front-line staff.
“There’s been 134 redundancies over the last 15 to 16 months but we have employed 40 new officers and are currently advertising for other positions,” Mr Macdonald told the Central Western Daily.
“Twenty-four of those 134 redundancies were negotiated through the Public Service Association.”
He said a new leader for agriculture climate change programs had been employed in Orange, with a new dairy officer in Wagga Wagga and numerous more front line officers around the state.
Despite redundancies coming primarily from staff at retirement age, Mr Macdonald said experienced DPI officers would still remain.
“There will still be lots of experience across the state ... there will be senior people remaining,” he said.
“We’ve found that many of the officers appointed in the late 90s are among our best officers.”
Shadow Primary Industries Minister Andrew Fraser was in Orange yesterday and rejected Mr Macdonald’s explanation as a smokescreen.
“Whether they were voluntary redundancies or they were sacked, it’s still a loss to Orange and to NSW,” Mr Fraser said.
“For [Ian Macdonald] to turn around and say ‘we’re putting on 40 staff’ is just misleading.”
He said a reduction in research was not acceptable, regardless of the reason.
“I think every department must make sure it delivers effective and efficient services but to cut jobs is detrimental,” Mr Fraser said.
He said NSW farmers needed DPI staff now more than ever, but morale within the department had plummeted with the knowledge cuts would continue to be made.
Mr Fraser and Member for Orange Russell Turner said they were contacted by DPI staff every week wishing to share their concerns but fears they too would lose their jobs meant very few would leave their names.
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