The O'Farrell government this morning refused to allow a vote in the Upper House on a Greens motion of solidarity with the Fairfax staff who have walked off the job in protest at management's decision to outsource 66 local jobs to New Zealand (See motion below).
Greens NSW MP John Kaye, who moved the motion, said: "The Coalition's refusal to take up the opportunity to offer its support to Fairfax workers is extremely disappointing.
"Fairfax management's outsourcing plan is simply a cost-cutting exercise.
"For the sake of a short term cut to the production budget, Fairfax is prepared to send local jobs to New Zealand and significantly damage the high standards of news and current affairs reporting in this state.
"The outsourcing of local jobs in the Illawarra and Hunter regions to an overseas company and the impacts on the quality of news and current affairs should be an issue of concern for everyone in NSW.
"Readers of the Illawarra Mercury and the Newcastle Herald will lose out as a result of these changes.
"The quality of news and current affairs reporting across the state will inevitably suffer if jobs are cut.
"Fairfax staff have every right to withdraw their labour in protest at these changes.
"The Greens express their solidarity with Fairfax workers taking industrial action and call on the management to abandon the outsourcing plans," Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
Notice of Motion moved and opposed in Legislative Council 31 May 2012
Dr Kaye to move:
1. That this House notes with concern
a) the proposal by Fairfax management to restructure operations at the Illawarra Mercury and Newcastle Herald and outsource a total of 66 local jobs in editorial production to New Zealand.
b) The impacts that this proposal would have on news and current affairs reporting in NSW's second and third largest cities and the consequent impacts on the quality public debate across the state.
2. That this House calls on Fairfax management to abandon these changes.
