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Is this the New Stolen Wages?
TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY URGES QUEENSLAND PREMIER FOR A FAIR DEAL FOR TORRES STRAIT WORKERS

For Immediate Release 11 December 2009

TSRA Chairperson John Toshie Kris said today that during her proposed visit to the Torres Strait next week Queensland Premier Anna Bligh needs to seriously address the issue of Community Development Employment Projects program (CDEP) workers doing Queensland Government jobs in the Torres Strait.

CDEP works in conjunction with Centrelink and is a program that enables people on government unemployment benefits to work on community projects and programs.

“In the Torres Strait we have over 1400 community members working through CDEP, but 48% of those are working in Australian and Queensland government positions. Currently these people are not being paid at the same level as Government employees and are certainly not receiving the additional entitlements such as superannuation, and leave loading that every other Government employee receives,” Mr Kris said.

Of this 48% (approximately 690 people), 40% (approximately 578 people) are directly benefiting Queensland government with jobs including community police, teachers aids, health administration, local government municipal services and administration.

“It’s not acceptable to expect our people to be doing the same jobs as government employees on the mainland, but for far less money, minimal training and no career advancement or opportunity - this is discrimination and a potential breach of the Federal Racial Discrimination Act,” Mr Kris said.

“The Government needs to make a firm commitment and fund those workers in our communities that are being paid under CDEP to deliver services that the Queensland Government is responsible for.

“I will be seeking Premier Bligh’s guarantee next week that Queensland will hold up its end of the bargain in promoting economic development in the Torres Strait by putting up funds to move people performing roles for the Queensland Government into full-time non-CDEP jobs.”

“We have not forgotten the promise of the Government that when they amalgamated the Councils two years ago that there would be permanent jobs created – and we are still waiting for that to happen,” Mr Kris concluded.

END

Contact: Rebecca Murphy, ph 0429 039 560, email rebecca.murphy@tsra.gov.au