NATIONAL GALLERY JOB LOSSES: SECOND WAVE OF APS JOB CUTS BEGINS

SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
CHAIR OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 

News that jobs will be cut at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is another sign that further public sector job cuts may be on the way.
 
This development follows last month’s announcement that the Australian Tax Office will close its Geelong office, meaning 100 jobs will be moved out of Geelong or lost altogether.
 
Since coming to power, the Liberal/National Government has slashed almost 9,000 Australian Public Service (APS) jobs from Canberra and around 18,000 across the country.
 
Just weeks ago Coalition Senators refused to support a Senate motion calling on the Morrison Government to rule out further job cuts across the APS.
 
The NGA is one of the biggest and most loved national institutions in the National Capital and is home to some of our country’s most treasured artworks.
 
Reports that around one in eight jobs at the NGA will be cut is devastating for those who work hard to deliver exciting exhibitions and tell the stories of our nation through art.
 
It also comes at a time when galleries around the country are hurting after being abandoned by the Morrison Government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Management at the NGA have been forced into this decision due to years of funding cuts imposed by this Government.
 
The 2014-15 budget delivered cuts to national institutions of $2.4 million and in the 2015-16 MYEFO a further $36.8 million was cut from cultural and collecting entities within the Arts portfolio, Including a cut of nearly $4 million from the NGA.
 
With public servants working hard to keep Australians safe it’s time the PM gave them his support and guaranteed that there will be no further job losses across the APS as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
He can start today by protecting the jobs at the NGA.
 
TUESDAY, 23 JUNE 2020