THE state opposition has disputed claims the government’s Department of Primary Industries shake-up will leave Gippsland largely unaffected.
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh announced recently DPI staff based in Department of Sustainability and Environment offices in Traralgon would be relocated to DPI offices.
Traralgon staff have been largely unaffected, with six DPI officers currently based at the DSE office in Hotham Street having to relocate to DPI offices on Grey Street.
However, opposition spokesperson for agriculture John Lenders said with the department facing “savage cuts”, it would have no choice but to actively seek redundancies in the region.
The government’s claim front-line services would be spared from the cuts in favour of targeting head office administrative staff was labelled as “mythical” by Mr Lenders, who said no-one in Gippsland offices would be immune to departmental pressure.
