Samantha Batchelor

Turn protest to power. Views are my own.

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

Problems @metrotas continue. Anything less than funding and improving the wages and conditions of ALL core workers at Metro will achieve nothing. #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@TasLiberal Really, on her mother's funeral day...."Colleen O’Byrne was fighting to improve the plight of hospital workers until her last days." Michelle has been the staunchest advocate for public health. Shame on you. #politas

https://t.co/KGY3AZ0EGD

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

Consultation for Tasmanian council workers is a hint of what to expect from mega-councils. Hint: it won't be local government!
#politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

Workers on King Island and Flinders Island have little chance to have their say on the future of local government. Not a single worker from George Town or Flinders Islands at today's staff consultation session. Is this what life after forced amalgamations looks like? #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

Listen to the workers.
#politas #ForcedAmalgamations

[ASUVicTas @ASU_VicTas]

This week, only 3 workers from Sorell Council were allowed to attend a consultation on the future of their employer in paid work time. Many were denied the chance to have a say. The Tassie government’s trying to steamroll communities and workers with forced council amalgamations!

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

Today workers at Meander Valley Council would have needed to track down to Bothwell to have their say on forced council amalgamations that includes a mega council option that stretches to Brighton. Guess what? Not one made the 3 hr round trip. Why? This isn’t local. #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

West of the Leven River/ West Ulverstone with Burnie, and Eastern part of Ulverstone with Kentish, Latrobe, Devonport? Splitting town into different councils based on a river surely won't flow for the people of Ulverstone. Leven-it alone #politas #LGReview #TasmanianCouncilChaos

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

LG Review Catchment packs 🤯. If you work/live at Brighton= in 3 "catchments" so travel to Bothwell, to Sorell and into Hobart to have a say on 5 different amalgamation scenarios. Talk about first hand experience of life/ services after forced amalagamations. #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

ASU members, boots on the ground workers, speaking in Parliament from the heart of why the 'Local' in Local Government matters and following at a rally.
About concerns for jobs, services, local representation and local communities.
📢Keep it local or we'll stay vocal
#politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

ASU member pressure has resulted in the Minister committing LG structural reform to passing both Houses of Parliament. Forced amalgamations and centralised services risks everything, solves nothing. We need workforce solutions, not impersonal, centralised bureaucracies. #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@SeanPFord1 If you don't review all tiers of Gov and amalgamate, what happens to services that are funded by councils as a provider of last resort due to policy and market failure. E.g. GPs, Child Care, will residents in a bigger Council pay? Will they close, or will Gov step up? #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@LukeEdmundsMLC Thanks for taking the time to meet with ASU members. Workers and communities have a big stake in the LG review.

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@mmaloneTAS Even if Tasmanians buy into the furphy that '29 is too many', they feel differently when they realise amalgamation leads to a loss of local representaion and services. Evidence leads to rate rises and job losses. Forced amalgamation risks everything and solves nothing #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@shannon_wells @LukeEdmundsMLC @Keg767 @ExaminerOnline And there are de economies of scale? And how do you assess the economic and human impacts of the loss of secure jobs? Research shows communities consistently place a higher value on local representation than on technical efficiencies or economies of scale.

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

@shannon_wells @Keg767 @LukeEdmundsMLC @ExaminerOnline Is it a cost saver? No, evidence says rates go up. Higher paid GMs and more middle management. Last time I checked those weren't the workers suffering in this cost of living crises and relying on their jobs.
https://t.co/HWPBbGSTWj

[Luke Edmunds MLC @LukeEdmundsMLC]

The Local Government Minister Nic Street needs to confirm that he will not use the stroke of a pen to merge #lgtas councils by stealth. #politas

[Luke Edmunds MLC @LukeEdmundsMLC]

Nic Street is so focused on playing the man he’s made a few factual errors in his angry media release today, for one I did a LG review submission on Feb 10. For two, I’m waiting until next week for a briefing from his Board. I asked two weeks ago for it. #politas #angryNic #lgtas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

LG Review Options paper out today. Looks like the 'elephant in the room' is out from under the desk. Stay tuned coming to your backyard soon.
https://t.co/K5GS7TRTGM
#politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

An increase for community services grants & an indexation review is welcome news..but with increased demand on these outsourced services & workers not wanting wage cuts/job losses what will the 3% cover? Bit like putting $10 in the tank & hoping you can roll down a hill #politas

[Samantha Batchelor @Sam_Batchelor1]

UTAS only exists because it was enacted under Legislation, so should be accountable to Parliament and Tasmanians. Time to end the rorts, the million$ salaries, the unethical treatment of academics, staff and students and reclaim education. #politas
https://t.co/liKudqcWL3