In February, the Director-General, Department of Premier and Cabinet advised agencies of the significant work that has occurred in NSW on this issue.  You will recall my Government endorsed the NSW Human Influenza Pandemic Plan which is available on NSW Health's website www.health.nsw.gov.au/pandemic/planning and on the Government's emergency information website www.emergency.nsw.gov.au. 

The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic has been endorsed by Federal Cabinet and is available at www.dpmc.gov.au.  These are whole of Government plans developed to support NSW and national health plans in responding to a pandemic.

To assist agencies with workforce planning issues in a pandemic my Government has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Unions NSW which, if implemented, will override all NSW public sector industrial instruments and related policies where they are inconsistent.  The MoU applies to all NSW Public Sector Service agencies and Stated Owned Corporations.  Attached for your information is a copy of the MoU.

The MoU sets out the conditions which will apply during a pandemic including attendance, salary payments, the ability to require staff to provide wider support by undertaking additional duties that are not in the employee's job description and approaches to take if NSW Health closes a workplace.

Where agencies have not prepared Business Continuity Plans in the event of an influenza pandemic, I encourage agencies to commence consultation with respective unions in regard to these plans.

Morris Iemma MP
Premier

Issued : Workforce Policy and Advice (Public Sector Workforce Office)
Contact: Colleen Herisson, Senior Employment Relations Adviser
EMail: [email protected]
Telephone no: 9228 3527    Facsimile:    9228 4056
File no: PSM/07621-005
Date:  19 October  2007
This memorandum has not superseded any other Memorandum/Circular