200 More Jobs Cut In Australian Environment Department As Funding, Responsibilities Evaporate

[hatrack]

Up to 200 more public servants at the Environment Department are set to lose their jobs as the government strips the agency of funding and responsibilities. The department's environmental assessment division will be almost wiped out with the survivors acting as a rubber stamp for state environmental approvals in line with the Abbott government's policy of cutting "green tape".

The department's boss has told staff that 25 per cent will be slashed from the budget over the next four years with most of the cuts coming in staffing numbers, a move that could reduce departmental numbers to fewer than 1700 - from 2300 last year - in coming years.

A call for voluntary redundancies is expected at Environment in coming weeks for a second tranche of cuts after 143 jobs were lost last year through redundancies.

Senior staff at the department were told recently there had been serious reductions in funding for its Environmental Assessments division, which will soon stop carrying out assessments and start operating as an audit body for state environmental decisions.

EDIT

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/up-to-200-public-servants-to-lose-jobs-in-environment-department-20140304-345lv.html

[phantom power]

1. wow, the Abbott govt reign is disheartening