Radio Communications

[ozgig]

It seems that the NSW Government, especially the Police Force have taken the Newcastle Sydney Wollongong (NSW) thing to the next level - and the Industrial Relations Commission's attitude is "So What!!"

Wagga Wagga Radio is to be closed, with about 45 public Servants given the Relocate/Redeploy or Redundancy option and 10 or so Coppers being moved to the LAC.

We currently support the South Western part of NSW, from the ranges to the SA boarder! Approx 250,000 sq kms. This Centre is the most efficiently run in NSW. Of the 6 centres, we were under spent on our 07/08 budget by $61,000. All the other centres were overspent to the tune of $1.4 mil. It seems that the reward for doing it right is to closure. What a Crock


Local knowledge - A/Commissioner Bob Waites has stated, in a press conference, that the loss of local knowledge will have no impact on the service delivery from Sydney. In private, the centre has been directed to provide a comprehensive list of the numbers we call for all sort of different things, from local snake catchers to the stock keeper for each council. And I thought local knowledge would not be a factor. (I suggested we just give Sydney Centre a copy of the Phone books for the areas we cover -- let them look it up!!!!!!)

A/Com Bob Waites has tried many times this year to get the Police Minister to sign off on the closure. It took a visit from Scipioni to browbeat the Minister into signing. (MLP Kelly is the one who has been asking Private industry to relocate into the bush, making room for the Government Departments back in the City.

For all of you guys in the Job, especially country coppers - be warned, Radio will soon have no idea on how large an area you cover. One has already asked "Where is Balranald?" Imagine being asked by a Metropolitan based operator to go up the road to help out, because it is only 2 inches apart on the map!

Well that is my beef - the closure is inevitable and just goes to show that the NSW Police Force is being run as a business, not a Government Department meant to SERVE the community. Police Force – it should be POLICE FARCE!!