THE first axe has fallen on Wagga's public sector jobs under the O'Farrell government with the Department of Industrial Relations slashing a third of its staff.
Across NSW the department will reduce its number from 157 to 109 and the two Wagga positions have been cut, despite expectations the new state government would bring in a decentralisation policy to boost regional public offices.
The two Wagga staff will hopefully be moved on to another position if they choose not to quit.
"If those staff choose to not take a voluntary redundancy NSW IR will do all it can to help them find another position in the NSW public service," NSW IR executive director Vicki Telfer said.
While the job losses are minimal, the closure is a body blow to Wagga and city council which earlier this year resolved to make attempts to attract government offices to the city.
Wagga once hosted a range of administrative offices which were phased out by state Labor since 1995. The most severe was the disbanding of the Department of Education's regional office which saw the office reduced from about 100 staff to 10 and resulted in a protest march down Wagga's main street in 1995.
Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire yesterday defended the cuts, saying the Coalition's strategy required an "adjustment" of staff.
"The thing is that we have our priorities put in place and that will mean some adjustment for staff," he said.
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