NSW Premier Mike Baird is reported as telling a Sydney conference that he has earmarked performance pay for the public sector should he be re-elected in March 2015, in a move the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) believes will create inequity and nepotism while further undermining the independence of the public service.  “On the back of the restrictive Senior Officer contracts that are currently being rolled out, whereby employees can be sacked for no stated reason, the move towards performance pay will further undermine the service,” said Acting PSA General Secretary, Steve Turner.  “Only those who provide advice that is acceptable to their employer will be rewarded with better pay.  The frank and fearless advice provided by public servants and the vital role they play as
community watchdogs which was highlighted in the recent ICAC hearings will die.  “Performance pay will destroy equity with people doing the same job receiving differing rates of pay.  Jeff Kennett introduced performance pay in Victoria as did John Howard and it resulted in the higher paid receiving more and the lower paid getting nothing.  “The PSA calls on the NSW Government to restore evidence driven pay rises based on productivity not favouritism,” Mr Turner said.