The ABC is reporting that losses are expected in a variety of areas, including Agriculture Victoria, Solar Victoria, the First Peoples group and bushfire and forest services.
“It is devastating for not only regional Victoria, but the Victorian public service,” Community and Public Sector Union secretary Jiselle Hanna said.
“A lot of people with very specialised and high levels of skill are going to be without jobs at the end of this process.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) was consulting with staff on the proposed changes and no decisions had been made.
The VFF is concerned proposed staff reductions to key Victorian Government departments could leave Victoria’s $20 billion dollar agriculture industry vulnerable to the risks posed by devastating pests and biosecurity threats.
VFF president Brett Hosking said the future of key roles involving biosecurity, emergency response and invasive-species management was under threat and the government must not shirk at its responsibility to protect the industry.
“Victorian agriculture is a world-class, $20 billion industry that indirectly employs more than 150,000 people,” Mr Hosking said.
“These proposed cuts have the potential to put all of that at risk if our biosecurity safety net is not maintained as it should be.
“Any reduction in staff and services would be a backward step for Victorian agriculture, particularly in areas safeguarding the sector against pests and diseases.
“Now is a critical time, given we have increasing threats and risks.
“The government have been taking a risk-based approach to policy and regulations, but are heightening these risks by reducing staff and capacity.”
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