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Contract cleaners Robert Srbinovski, left, Veselka Cvetanoska, and Rosa Nocevska clean the Department of Industrial Relations offices yesterday. Help
Contract cleaners Robert Srbinovski, left, Veselka Cvetanoska, and Rosa
Nocevska clean the Department of Industrial Relations offices yesterday.
Jolimont IR workers
take 'early holidays'
By PETER CLACK,
Crime Reporter
The Department of Industrial Rela
tions has been criticised for allowing
its 350 staff working in the fire-dam
aged Jolimont Centre to take what the
Federal Opposition alleges is "an early
Christmas holiday at $400,000 a
week".
But the department immediately de
nied that leave over and above normal
entitlements was being granted.
The Opposition acting spokesman
for administrative services, lan Camp
bell, said yesterday the Common
wealth would pick up the $1.5 million
tab for an unplanned one-month holi
day on full pay for staff — in addition
to usual leave benefits.
He said the department should im
mediately have obtained alternative
short-term accommodation for staff
evacuated after last week's siege and
fire at the centre.
But the department's Secretary, Pe
ter Core, denied vigorously that staff
were receiving extra leave and said
that many had returned to work at
other department offices since the fire.
"There is no extra paid leave," Mr
I Core said. "That's it, full stop."
He said there had been 351 staff
working at Jolimont at the time of the
fire. By yesterday, 185 had returned to
work either at Tasman House, Optus
House or at two floors at 12 Mort
Street provided by the Department of
Employment, Education and Train
ing.
Senator Campbell said the depart
ment had taken a gamble that the
building would be quickly cleaned, re
paired and fit for staff to return.
The eventual damage bill was esti
mated by the building's owner, AMP,
at $2 million.
Senator Campbell said it had been
ua management decision" to send staff
home rather than find a temporary
building.
"We know the down side ... [but]
there are other buildings available for
short-term lease.
"1 understand a private enterprise
affected by the same fire has already
relocated its entire operations, and is
open for business."
Mr Core said all staff would "very
probably" be back at work as early as
the end of next week provided
cleaning finished on schedule and au
thorities approved building safety.
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