NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has defended his government's plan to freeze NSW public servant wages for 12 months, saying it is the decision that will best benefit the state as a whole.
"We don't just govern for the public service, we govern for everyone ... we have 221,000 people losing their jobs in the state and hundreds and thousands on JobKeeper," he told ABC radio this morning.
The Treasurer said "in the choice between giving NSW public servants a pay rise and creating new jobs", the latter came out on top.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the plan, which will apply to new agreements for their first 12 months of operation, at a press conference yesterday morning.
Mr Perrottet said there were discussions about only applying the pay freeze to certain occupations, presumably health workers such as doctors and nurses, however discussions with unions made clear to him that all public service workers – such as teachers and public transport staff – have been on the frontline during the pandemic.
"This is a once in a hundred-year situation," he said.
Speaking on NSW's plans to abolish stamp duty, Mr Perrottet told presenter Hamish McDonald he was keen for tax and responsibility reform following national cabinet's meeting, which will focus on federation and tax reform.
"I've been discussing and championing tax reform and federation form for some time now. I think we have an obligation to sit down with the federal government ... you've got to work with the federal government."
He flagged health and education as areas in which he would be open to change.
"It's about looking at who's best placed to provide those services and deliver policy outcomes," he said.