Media Releases Archives - ɫ��CPSU NSW

ɫ��backs foster care overhaul restoring accountability to child protection system

John McLoughlin — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:57:04 +0000

The Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) says the Minns Government’s announcement of sweeping foster care reforms, designed to rebuild accountability and transparency across a system supporting more than 13,500 vulnerable children, is a long overdue reset after years of outsourcing failures under the Permanency Support Program.

The union, which represents child protection caseworkers in the Department of Communities and Justice, said the changes recognise what frontline staff have been warning for years: when responsibility is fragmented, children fall through the cracks.

For nearly a decade, caseworkers have operated inside a system where legal responsibility remained with government while service delivery was increasingly outsourced to non-government providers.

A three-year evaluation found the model failed its core objectives, even as funding to providers climbed to around $1 billion annually and the services delivered to children declined.

The ɫ��said the shift to strengthen oversight, wind down existing contracts and return decision-making authority to government agencies is essential to protecting children and restoring public confidence.

The reforms will also elevate the role of foster carers, expand recruitment, strengthen performance monitoring of providers and invest further in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations so Aboriginal children can remain connected to kin, culture and community wherever possible.

The union said frontline workers understand the stakes better than anyone.

“For years our union has been campaigning on behalf of our members in regard to the dysfunctional child protection system they were left managing by the former government,” said Troy Wright, ɫ��Assistant General Secretary.

“Crucially last year in the Budget the Government committed funds to increase their salaries to a level that would address the workforce retention crisis, but the reforms announced today are the final missing piece.

“The out-of-home care system in New South Wales has been subject to more bad reviews than a Bollywood musical and more report card fails than Bart Simpson.

“It offered poor outcomes and even worse value for the taxpayer.

“Non-Government Organisations were virtually being given open-ended cheques with no responsibilities, and when they couldn’t do the work because it was too difficult, the care of children was thrown back on a resource-starved public sector.

“This will ensure the decision-making is placed with the Minister, Government and Department with the legal responsibility for children in care, and that accountability is placed on the service who accept the funding to provide it.”

Media contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547

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State’s highest court rules for common sense

John McLoughlin — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:24:10 +0000

The NSW Court of Appeal’s recent ruling that NSW parliamentary inquiries have no valid power to compel witnesses to appear before them to give evidence is a victory for common sense, says the Public Service Association.

The court ruling means outdated 124-year-old laws recently relied upon in an attempt to compel some of the Premier’s staff to appear before a parliamentary committee have now been struck down.

The laws are unusual in that they can’t be used to compel members of parliament, and therefore Ministers, to appear but they can be used to compel their staff.

The case was brought before the court by Premier Chris Minns’ chief of staff, James Cullen, after he was asked to appear at a number of parliamentary inquiries.

The court’s ruling is a victory for common sense, says Public Service Association General Secretary, Stewart Little.

“This is a victory for common sense,” said Mr Little.

“Ministers and Departmental Secretaries are fair game and should be held to account.

“Staffers and junior public servants should not be used as pawns in political shenanigans.”

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Poo balls, asbestos dumping and lead contamination to go unchecked due to planned staff cuts at EPA

John McLoughlin — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:44:46 +0000

What: ɫ��Rally to Save the EPA (100+ people)
When: 1:00pm, Wednesday 5 November 2025
Where: Parramatta Square (outside EPA building/ABC Building)

Poo balls, asbestos dumping and lead contamination to go unchecked due to planned staff cuts at EPA

Poo ball detectives, asbestos dumping inspectors and lead contamination monitors are all to be sacked if the Minns Government presses ahead with plans unveiled late last month to cut 1 in 10 positions from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The Government has announced they will cut 150 jobs.

Dozens of EPA workers will rally in Parramatta Square today to protest the Minns Government’s devastating decision to cut critical environmental protection roles.

The rally, organised by the Public Service Association (PSA), will take place at 1:00pm on Wednesday 5 November 2025 outside the EPA headquarters in Parramatta Square.

ɫ��General Secretary Stewart Little said the Minns Government’s actions amount to environmental vandalism at a time when NSW faces growing environmental crises.

“Our members clean up mystery poo balls when they wash up on Sydney’s beaches, they stop criminals dumping asbestos in bushland, they monitor lead levels in mining towns like Broken Hill to keep local kids safe,” said Mr Little.

“They make sure radioactive medical waste is transported and disposed of safely, that PFAS firefighting foam doesn’t contaminate our drinking water, and that soft plastic doesn’t end up in our waterways.

“Cutting these jobs doesn’t save money – it guarantees more environmental damage and health risks for the people of NSW.

“While the Government talks about sustainability, it’s gutting the very agency tasked with keeping our air, water and land safe.

“It is of concern that the Environment Minister Penny Sharpe doesn’t realise the value of EPA staff and the essential work they do.”

Recent pollution incidents, including “poo balls” washing up on Sydney beaches and rising lead contamination in Broken Hill, highlight the vital work EPA staff do every day to protect the public and environment.

The cuts also come as the EPA is under pressure to regulate major issues such as:

PFAS contamination around airport firefighting sites in Richmond and Williamstown
Illegal logging on the North Coast
Asbestos fill concerns in parks in Liverpool
Safe disposal of flammable lithium ion batteries
Transportation and safe disposal of radioactive medical waste
Mystery poo balls washing up on Sydney’s beaches
Lead contamination in mining towns like Broken Hill

“NSW needs a stronger, not weaker, environmental watchdog,” said Mr Little.

“This short sighted decision to save a small amount of money is going to cost us much more in the long run.

“If these cuts go ahead, the EPA will be reduced to a toothless tiger – and the community will pay the price.”

Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547

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Prison officers walk off job after prisoner who bashed four officers given ‘slap on the wrist’

John McLoughlin — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 02:00:56 +0000

Prison officers at Cessnock Correctional Centre have walked off the job after a prisoner who based four of their colleagues went unpunished by a controversial Magistrate yesterday and is set to be released back into the community.

Prison officers at Bathurst Correctional Centre have also walked off the job with prison officers at all of the state’s 36 prisons are likely to follow in the next few hours.

This will leave local, district and supreme courts unable to function.

Cameron Welsh bashed four prison officers earlier this year at the Cessnock Correctional Centre leaving them with sickening facial injuries.

All four prison officers here hospitalised and two will never work again.

Welsh was transferred to Goulburn High Risk Management Correctional Centre or ‘Supermax’ and isolated from other prisoners.

But yesterday a Magistrate refused to add any time to Welsh’s sentence meaning he can leave prison as early as tomorrow.

Welsh, 26, has a history of violence, in 2023 he was arrested for bashing two men with a baseball bat in the Hunter.

Prison officers in NSW are represented by the Public Service Association of NSW.

Public Service Association President Nicole Jess, herself a sworn prison officer, says it’s beggars belief Welsh has not been punished for the vicious assault on the four prison officers earlier this year.

“This tells the community it’s okay to bash prison officers, that you won’t be punished if you do and you’ll be able to return to the community,” says Ms Jess.

“In giving Mr Welsh a slap on the wrist this Magistrate has delivered a slap in the face to every prison officer in this state who keep our community safe from those who’ve forfeited their right to walk amongst us.

“Prison officers are absolutely livid about this and expect immediate action from the Minns Government.”

Public Service Association General Secretary Stewart Little says he can’t believe any Magistrate in the state would deliver such a misguided judgement.

“My phone has gone into meltdown, I’ve had prison officers ringing me all day absolutely incandescent with rage at the signal this Magistrate has sent to the community.

“The Attorney General better get himself out of whatever meeting or media opportunity or announcement he’s currently engaged in and get this solved or else the state’s prison system is going to go into meltdown.”

Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547

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ɫ��condemns threats of arrest against ministerial staff

John McLoughlin — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:40:50 +0000

Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) General Secretary Stewart Little has condemned the use of threats, such as arrest by the Upper House of the NSW Parliament, in its dealings with ministerial and public sector staff.

The ɫ��represents ministerial staff in NSW.

“The ɫ��is appalled that ministerial staff are being used as political footballs and threatened with arrest for simply doing their jobs,” Mr Little said.

“The power of arrest is one that the Constitution grants to the courts, not to Parliament.

“It is unacceptable that workers are being met with such threats in the course of their employment.”

“Politicians and departmental heads are fair game, not public servants and staffers.

“Our members deserve respect and dignity in their work, not to be dragged into political fights.

“Staff need more protection, not more intimidation.

“No public sector employee should ever be placed in this position.”

Mr Little said the Association will continue to advocate for stronger safeguards to protect staff from political interference and ensure all employees are treated fairly.

Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547

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Troy Wright, Assistant General Secretary of the Public Service Association, on the invasive species announcement

John McLoughlin — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

“Today’s faux announcement was an audacious attempt to trick the agricultural sector into believing 200 staff were going to be hired to help combat fire ants, varroa mite and other biohazards.

“Coming only a month after sacking 165 staff this seemed curious.

“On closer inspection we see the Agriculture Minister is simply planning to train some of the department’s few remaining staff to take on the duties of those she’s just sacked.

“Our members have been concerned about the impact of these cuts on the state’s agricultural sector and this confirms their concerns.”

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Public Service Association Demands an End to Cuts at the Art Gallery of NSW: “Stop the Art Attack!”

John McLoughlin — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Public Service Association (PSA), the union representing workers at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, has today called on the NSW Government and Art Gallery management to halt a damaging restructure that would see 51 jobs axed and $7.5 million cut from the institution’s budget.

ɫ��Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright says the planned cuts need to be halted immediately.

“This is not reform — it’s a calculated attack on the people who bring this Gallery to life,” Mr Wright said.

“Cutting 51 roles from the core workforce while shielding executives and consultants is not change, it’s carnage.

The proposed cuts, outlined in the so-called Change Management Plan distributed in mid-August, come as the Art Gallery enjoys record-breaking success.

With over 2.3 million visitors in the past year — a staggering 84% increase from pre-COVID levels — AGNSW is the 26th most visited gallery in the world.

“Why is one of Australia’s most successful cultural institutions being punished for its success?” Mr Wright asked.

“The staff facing the axe are not sitting behind closed doors — they are curators, educators, designers, and public-facing professionals who make the AGNSW world-class.”

The ɫ��has also raised alarm about the departments most affected, such as Design, while directorates like Philanthropy, Major Gifts, and Business Development remain untouched — despite comprising 20% of the workforce.

“Let’s be real, the cuts aren’t falling evenly,” said Mr Wright.

The union has also rejected comparisons to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), a model repeatedly referenced by Treasury and Gallery management.

“If the plan is to remake AGNSW in the image of the NGV, let me remind you: the NGV is a cautionary tale, not a benchmark,” said Mr Wright.

Reports of toxic workplace culture, burnout, and inappropriate behaviour should not be ignored — they should be avoided at all costs,” Mr Wright stated.

The ɫ��further highlighted concerns around unpaid labour, noting the surge in volunteer hours — up from 236 volunteers last year to 297 this year — raising fears that paid, unionised jobs will be replaced with unpaid or contract roles.

“This creeping reliance on volunteerism is a red flag. It’s not about community engagement — it’s about cost-cutting by stealth,” Mr Wright warned.

The union is urging the public, gallery-goers, and cultural advocates across the state to speak out in defence of the Gallery’s workforce and to demand a halt to the restructure.

“We’re not against change. We’re against cuts that gut the Gallery while protecting privilege,” Mr Wright said.

“This institution doesn’t just hang art — it hangs onto the dedication, skill, and passion of its people. And we intend to protect them,” Wright concluded.

Key Demands from the PSA:

Stop the Art Attack
Save the $7.5 million earmarked for cuts
Protect the 51 jobs on the line
Reject the NGV comparison model
End the overreliance on unpaid labour

The ɫ��stands ready to negotiate real, sustainable change that strengthens the Art Gallery of NSW — not weakens it.

Media Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547

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Art Gallery Staff March on NSW Parliament House

John McLoughlin — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

WHAT: Art Gallery of NSW workers walk off the job & protest

WHEN: 12.30pm, 16th September

WHERE: NSW Parliament house (front)

Public Service Association Demands an End to Cuts at the Art Gallery of NSW: “Stop the Art Attack!”

ɫ��Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright says the planned cuts need to be halted immediately.

“This is not reform — it’s a calculated attack on the people who bring this Gallery to life,” Mr Wright said.

“Cutting 51 roles from the core workforce while shielding executives and consultants is not change, it’s carnage.”