At a time when the community needs services and support, members of South Australia’s Civil Contractor Federation (CCF) are reporting a progressive contraction in local government activities due to virus restrictions.
CCF South Australia says the behaviour of some South Australian councils: “is completely unacceptable and totally lamentable”.
CCF says that Adelaide City Council’s announcement this week of downing tools will have a knock-on effect throughout the State’s councils. Adelaide’s major council is sending all employees home for at least four weeks and closing the door on most of its operations.
“The City of Adelaide should be setting the example, not leading the charge out the door,” says CCF South Australia chief executive Phil Sutherland.
“If it’s good enough for private sector companies to stay on the job to keep the economy ticking over, it’s good enough for council workers. The risks are the same for everyone.
“The South Australian community will be horrified to find that their individual councils are leaving citizens to fend for themselves during a national health and economic emergency.
“All levels of government should be stepping up to the plate. The entitlement culture we see in many South Australian councils is now translating into self-preservation. Where is the spirit of public service? We should be in this fight together, shoulder to shoulder.”
Sutherland says many councils have local infrastructure projects on the back burner waiting for funding to become available.
“The State Government is making money available so that these council projects can commence, keep people employed and play a role in the economic recovery effort. If councils close, the stimulus money will be to no avail.
“We are calling on all councils to keep their doors open and get those projects out and underway. Civil contractors and other businesses are ready, willing and available to do this work,” says Sutherland.
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