Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for School, Education, Early Childhood and Youth has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The net financial effect on the department's 2012-13 budget of:

(a) the original 1.5 per cent efficiency dividend is approximately $8.8 million;

(b) the additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend is approximately $14.7 million; and

(c) other savings measures as introduced in the 2012-13 Budget papers is $6.6 million.

(2) During 2011-12 the department undertook a series of workshops designed to generate ideas at all levels for stopping and changing work. Over a period of approximately six weeks, workshops were delivered for every branch and state office in the department. In excess of 1800 staff participated in the workshops which generated thousands of ideas. The outcomes of the workshops are being implemented. The department also continues to explore opportunities for savings in areas such as property and travel.

(3) The percentage of total expenditure for 2012-13 represented by staff costs is 68.6 per cent.

(4) A net reduction in:

(a) the department's average staffing level is expected to reduce from 4738 in 2011-12 to 3,593 in 2012-13. The reduction includes the impact of the transfer of the Tertiary Education funcion to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education; and

(b) The department is not expecting a significant reduction in the number of contractors in 2012-13.

(5) How many:

(a) voluntary redundancies; and

(b) involuntary redundancies, are expected to be executed.

No voluntary or involuntary redundancies are currently planned for 2012-13.

(6) The distribution of employees across classification bands as at 30 June 2012 is provided in the table below: