Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)   The table below listed in Budget Paper 1, shows the change in Average staffing levels from 2010-11 to 2011-12 for the agencies within my portfolio.

Geoscience Australia is the only agency in my portfolio estimating a reduction in their Average staffing levels from 2010-11 to 2011-12. The estimated reduction is due to a number of factors, and may have been exacerbated by the application of the efficiency dividend of the 21 April 2011. It is therefore not possible to provide information on the areas and classifications which may be affected.

Only three agencies in my portfolio are affected by efficiency dividends – the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Geoscience Australia and Tourism Australia.

(2)   While Geoscience Australia have estimated a reduction in ASL from 2010-11 to 2011-12, mitigating strategies have been put in place to avoid staff reductions if possible.

(3)   The agencies within my portfolio with graduate recruitment, cadetships and other programs remain committed to these programs and no reductions are envisaged at this time.