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Farmers Back Social Audit

NSW unions have found an unlikely ally in the NSW Farmers Federation who have publicly backed the call for a social audit into the allocation of budget resources across the state.

	COCG Chief Bob Walker addresses Labor Council

The Farmers this week issued a release backing the audit, raising particular concerns about expected cuts to NSW Agriculture in next week's State Budget.

Farmers' policy director Mick Keogh has urged the Government to undertake the social audit as a sensible way to plan for the longer term and assess the gaps in government services.

"An audit of the level of services in agriculture in NSW would show significant cuts in the real level of funding to NSW Agriculture in recent years, well beyond funding cuts in other Government services," Keogh says.

"We understand that -- like banks and everyone else -- government has to deliver its services differently, but unless you can measure your outcomes there's no way you can justify these changes."

Much of the Work Has Been Done

Meanwhile, the chair of the Carr Government's Council on the Cost of Government says much of the material that would be required for a social audit is already at hand.

Professor Bob Walker told Labor Council's weekly meeting that the Council had been developing a set of reports detailing what government services go to what percentage of the community.

Walker says there are currently 13 reports of this type on the Internet (at http://www.occg.nsw.gov.au/ ). These reports are structured around the activities of government as a whole, rather than on departmental lines.

He says these reports represent the most comprehensive assembly of performance information about government ever undertaken in Australia, representing a shift away from the way the Greiner Government focussed on labour-productivity and cost-cutting.

Walker also urged unions to move beyond the idea of an audit and look at setting performance targets on a range of government services.

Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said the Council of the Cost of Government reports contain useful information which would lay the groundwork for a comprehensive audit of service delivery.

"This reinforces our view that a social audit would not be an onerous exercise, the resources are there and we think they should be brought into a digestible form."

Country Conference Looms

A Newcastle rally this week set the scene for next week's ALP Country Conference with a ringing endorsement of the social audit.

Labor Council president John Whelan addressed the rally attended by more than 100 people outside the Premiers Department.

Whelan told the crowd the social audit being promoted by NSW unions was a way of ensuring money was spent where it was most needed, particularly in rural areas.

He called on unionists to talk to community, ethnic and religious leaders about the union movement's proposals for the bush.

"The demise if the Country Party has left a leadership vacuum in rural and regional Australia which could be filled by the trade union movement," Whelan said.

The ALP's County Conference in Goulburn will next weekend consider a recommendation, already endorsed by the Rural and Regional Committee, to undertake a social audit. It will also consider industrial reform proposals such as increased legislation for body hire firms and independent contractors.

   For more details visit the Farmers

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 18 contents

»	Carers Crisis: Victims Turned Away
»	Farmers Back Social Audit
»	Holiday Bugs: Government Asked to Act on Y2K
»	Oakdale Miners Take Message to Canberra
»	United Front for Public Sector Pay
»	Talking Books Silenced
»	Upper House Reform: Lest We Forget Greiner
»	Pregnancy Bunfight Looms
»	Horta Launches East Timor Mercy Ship
»	Sparkies Back Fantastic Plastic
»	APHEDA Helps Beat The Blockade
»	Torture Support Day, June 26

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Chardonnay Debate Lacks Class
»	GST Rally, Town Hall, Monday June 21

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