CPSU NSW General Secretary and CPSU Federal Secretary Stewart Little has slammed plans by WaterNSW to cut a quarter of its workforce.

Mr Little described the plans as “nutty”, adding he’s “never heard a worse announcement in the 30 years I’ve been involved in industrial relations”.

Mr Little said moves by Treasurer Danial Mookhey, “led by [Treasury Secretary] Michael Coutts-Trotter”, have led to money being withheld by the State Government that should be used to upgrade facilities that collect and distribute water.

WaterNSW announced the job cuts, claiming they are needed to plug an $80 million hole in the organisation’s budget.

WaterNSW is a State Owned Corporation. Despite being owned by the State Government, these bodies are classified as commercial businesses that provide essential services, such as water, power and port access, to the people of NSW.

Mr Little said the WaterNSW decision will disproportionately affect regional NSW. They come soon after job cuts, largely in the bush, were announced at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

While four of the seven WaterNSW executive members have been made redundant, Mr Little said the State Government needs to concentrate on reducing the number of high-earning senior executives, some of whom have recently received pay 10 per cent rises, and sparing staff members on the frontline.

“In circumstances where we have seen huge pay increases for the state’s fat cats, we had critical frontline jobs cut in DPIRD,” he said.

Mr Little said WaterNSW’s move is poorly timed, given that it come at a time when weather patterns mean water supplies are less certain throughout the state.

The CPSU NSW has contacted the Minister for Water, Rose Jackson, over the changes.