Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Staffing numbers will be reduced over the period of the 2011–12 financial year. The department is currently working to identify the areas and clarify the numbers and classifications of staff that will be affected.

(2) Yes. Staffing numbers will be reduced over the period of the 2011–12 financial year. The department is currently working to identify the areas and clarify the numbers and classifications of staff that will be affected.

PBS figures show staffing numbers for the portfolio to be 5,063 in 2010–11 (estimated actual) and 5,114 (budgeted) for 2011–12. PBS figures show staffing numbers for the department to be 4,524 for 2010–11 (estimated actual) and 4,570 (budgeted) for 2011–12.

As the portfolio is constantly managing its priorities, and PBS figures are prepared in May each year, PBS figures do not always reflect the current portfolio position.

Staffing in the portfolio represents a diverse number of skill sets. While some areas may be recruiting, others may be downsizing. Skill sets may not necessarily be readily transferable across areas and as a result it is not simply a matter of transferring staff between areas. However, this may be possible in some instances.

Reductions will be achieved by rationalising and realigning the department's functions, transferring staff into vacant priority positions, natural attrition and voluntary redundancies where necessary.

(3) The DAFF graduate program will be operating in 2012. The department is yet to confirm the number of participants in the 2012 program