[Greens-Media] Equal Pay – Time for NSW to Commit

[David Shoebridge]

Equal Pay – Time for NSW to Commit
MEDIA RELEASE: 16 May 2011
 
The Greens NSW welcome the historical equal pay case for community
workers today and called on the NSW Government to stop its opposition to
the case and support equal pay. 
 
Greens MP David Shoebridge said: 
 
"The evidence is now in that pay rates in the social, community and
disability services industry are lower simply because women do most of
this work. The Government must act. 
 
"The ASU case representing workers in the community sector in NSW is a
landmark decision for the future of equity and fairness in this country.

 
"The Greens have consistently called on the Government to fund the
outcome of this case. In November 2010 both the Coalition and Labor
refused to commit the funding the outcome of the case. 
 
(See Hansard:
http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20101125017)
 
"At the end of the hearings in April this year Greg Pearce as Minister
for Finance and Services charged the NSW submission saying the claim
"must fail" and suggesting it would cost up to $998 million over five
years. 
 
"Such scaremongering suggests that we can't afford equal pay. Those in
the disability and community services sector know better, we can't
afford to not have equal pay.
 
"Greg Pearce has said that the Coalition fully supports equal pay – the
way to show this is to pay more than lip service.
 
"Doing so would set an example to other levels of Government in the
lead up to the June 8 Equal Pay National Day of Action.
 
"The question is will the NSW Government now withdraw its opposition to
the case and commit to the funding required to deliver pay equity." 
 
More information:  9230 3030 | 0433 753 376
 
 
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David Shoebridge
Greens MLC
NSW Parliament
PH: (02) 9230 3030
FX: (02) 9230 2159
www.davidshoebridge.org.au