Job cuts in Australian Customs to satisfy Govt Raz
23 Nov 2008
Media release
Estimates have revealed Rudd’s razor gang is forcing significant job cuts in Australian Customs Intelligence and Regional Divisions, Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Justice and Border Protection said today.
“The Rudd Government’s $51.5 million budget cuts to the Australian Customs Service in real terms will see around 20 jobs being cut from the Targeting, Intelligence and the Strategic divisions,” Mr Pyne said.
“These sections within Australian Customs provide the crucial intelligence and investigative operations that protect Australian borders from organised crime and terrorist attacks,” he said.
“Even more worrying, with regional airports and ports already struggling due to the enormous demands placed upon security agencies, Customs is being forced to cut around 13 regionally based operatives.
“Additional job cuts have been confirmed in Customs corporate support, information technology and tech support.
“Australian Customs has more demands placed upon it than ever before, protecting Australian borders from dangerous illicit drugs, disease and the terrorist threat, amongst other things.
“Cuts to Australian Customs, who are the front line in Australia’s border protection security, would have been unthinkable for any sensible government.
“The ALP has played to form and started undoing the strong support that our national security agencies like Customs enjoyed under the Coalition Government.
“This contrasts sharply with the increased support the former Coalition Government provided to Customs, lifting spending from $357 million in 1996 to over $1 billion in 2007,” Mr Pyne said.
27 May 2008
Media Contact: Adam Howard