Unions criticise WA welfare proposals

Unions representing workers in not-for-profit welfare organisations in Western Australia have criticised a state government move to provide a $604 million boost to the sector.

The funding boost was announced in WA Treasurer Christian Porter's first budget on Thursday, with the funding to go to more than 300 organisations, including the Salvation Army and Anglicare.

It will help organisations offering services in the areas of mental health, suicide prevention, disability and aged care.

But unions have denounced the package, saying it is a shift to privatising care services in WA, with no guarantees the funding will lead to better wages for workers in the traditionally low-paid sector.

The secretary of the United Voice union, Dave Kelly, said on Thursday there was a real danger the money would go to employ more managers or buy cars rather than hire more care staff or lift wages.

"If the premier (Colin Barnett) wants to show that he's not wanting to move services from the public sector to the private sector because the wages are cheaper, he should have guaranteed that the additional money today would go to wages, and he has refused to do that," Mr Kelly told reporters.

"It's fine for the premier to say there'll be additional money for the private sector, but if over the next four years they're going to progressively wind back the government spending in these areas there really is no benefit or dividend to the public.

"It's just a transfer of money from the government taking responsibility for these services to the private sector and church and charity groups."

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