YOUR STARS
Find out what’s in store for you with our resident astrologer, Francis Bevan. page 45
A WET SUMMER
Monty Panesar probably didn’t expect this weather for his Australian stint. page 78
DECEMBER 16 2011 ISSUE 1033
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 59,400
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
Please support us John Thain wants to investigate a radical local page 6 power plan
City Centre overhaul: Changes for the better The Penrith City Centre Association is facing a number of changes page 8
Charity bike ride: From Penrith to Melbourne Charity is at the heart of special bike ride to take page 31 place next year
Defence Department employees take their pay fight to David Bradbury s doorstep EMILY CRANE
A
re you interested in defence after election time? That’s the question local Department of Defence employees were asking as they rallied outside Lindsay MP David Bradbury’s office on Wednesday over a new pay offer, which they claim will cut their take home pay. They stood holding posters that displayed a photo of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Mr Bradbury at a HMAS naval base in Darwin just before the Federal Election last year. Defence civilian employees from the area are among thousands nationwide seeking a pay offer that recognises the support they provide to frontline military operations. “After more than six months of negotiations over a new pay deal, and millions of dollars in savings and efficiencies identified and implemented by these employees, Defence has made them an insulting offer that amounts to a pay cut,” said Robyn Fortescue from the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. “The position Defence is taking is demoralising at a time these employees are supporting a number of critical military deployments. “We are hoping [Mr Bradbury] will publicly support Defence employees and use his influence in government to make sure they get a fair go.” Mr Bradbury said he was surprised the union would stage a protest without requesting to speak with him fi rst. “Enterprise bargaining is at the heart of Labor’s Fair Work,” he said. Mr Bradbury said disagreements in the stage of bargaining were not unexpected or unusual. “Defence, employees and unions have approached bargaining in a sensible and productive way and I am confident that they will be able to deliver a new agreement that provides a fair and responsible deal for both the Department as employer and for employees,” he said.
Local Defence employees rallied outside Lindsay MP David Bradbury’s office on Wednesday. [Photo: Melinda Jenkins]
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Power solution: Council could generate power