Regional areas at risk from job cuts

South Australian regions are at risk if public sector job cuts go ahead, with a potential 7,000 regional jobs lost across the state, according to one minister.

Lashing out at Liberal leader Isobel Redmond’s plans to cut 20,000 public service jobs across the state if elected in 18 months time, employment, higher education and skills minister, Tom Kenyon, said that this would devastate the regional areas.

Pointing to essential services, including doctors, nurses, police and teachers, Mr Kenyon said that the cuts “would have a devastating impact on providing essential services to the regions like doctors, nurses, police and teachers.

“There are currently more than 21,000 public servants working in our regions. They’re doing a good job, but it’s unrealistic to suggest you could cut that number by up to 7,000 without affecting vital services in our rural cities and towns.”

South Australia Unions’ vice president, Joe Szakacs has also spoken out against the cuts.

The Liberal party has announced that the cuts will not be as proportionatly large as those in Queensland and New South Wales.

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