Dispute on use of Agency Contractors and Consultants

The Public Service Association has listed a dispute in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) against the Department of Justice, Digital and Technology Services (DTS) in relation to the continued use of agency contractors as supervisors. After hearing the parties, the IRC made a number of recommendations, including that “Digital and Technology Services is to review its current supervisory arrangements, to ensure that contingent workers (contractors) and consultants are not supervising public service employees.” The PSA says it “will ensure that the Department of Justice complies with these recommendations. The PSA also invites member feedback if these recommendations are being breached. The PSA is also having ongoing discussions with the Department of Justice about recruitment of public sector employees to ongoing roles, as opposed to use of Agency Contractors, as part of its wider Labour Hire Campaign.”