Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet:

(1) Current staffing numbers have not been reduced as a result of the efficiency dividend.

(2) The 2011-12 Budget indicates that departmental staff would increase by 200 largely due to Machinery of Government (MoG) changes. Once one-off factors are taken into account (such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, MoG changes, and establishment of the National Mental Health Commission), the department has estimated that average staffing levels will fall slightly over the year from levels as at June 2011 due to a range of factors and it is difficult to isolate the separate impact of the efficiency dividend.

(3) No changes are proposed to the current graduate recruitment or cadetship programs.

Office of National Assessments:

(1) There has been no specific target for staff reductions to achieve savings, however, staffing levels are being closely monitored and managed.

(2) The Office does not have any staff reduction plans in place.

(3) ONA does not currently have a graduate or cadet program, however it is currently investigating a range of recruitment opportunities through the development of a recruitment strategy.

Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General:

(1) The Office has reduced staffing levels by around 14 per cent over the past 3 years through natural attrition to achieve a number of efficiency measures. Due to the range of factors it is difficult to isolate the separate impact of the efficiency dividend.

(2) The Office does not have any staff reduction plans in place.

(3) No changes are underway or planned in relation to graduate recruitment, cadetships or similar programs

Refer to QONs 1116, 1133, 1135, 1140 and1148 for answers from other PM&C portfolio ministers.