Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon notice, on 12 September 2011:

(1) Have staffing numbers in agencies within the Minister's portfolio been reduced as a result of the efficiency dividend and/or other budget cuts; if so, in which areas and at what classification.

(2) Are there any plans for staff reduction in agencies within the Minister's portfolio; if so, can details be provided i.e. reduction target, how this will be achieved, services/programs to be cut etc.

(3) What changes are underway or planned for graduate recruitment, cadetships or similar programs, and if reductions are envisaged can details be provided, including reasons, target numbers etc.

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

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

(1) and (2) As announced by the Minister on 6 May 11, Defence will undertake further reform and rationalisation of shared services. This means Defence will forgo planned growth to its workforce of -631 in 2011-12, -832 in 2012-13 and -1000 from 2013-14 onwards.

The intent is to realise workforce reductions in corporate overhead functions in a way that does not reduce standards of service in support of operations or capability development. The detailed analysis work on how the reform will be made is still under way. It is not possible to provide details of classifications or locations.

Over the same period, there will still be growth in Defence of +976 Australian Public Servants, due to:

growth of +732 for the implementation of Force 2030 capability initiatives;

growth of +677 under the Strategic Reform Program arising from the conversion to Australian Public Servants of more expensive contractor and military positions;

reductions totalling -530 under the Strategic Reform Program from efficiency improvements and the introduction of a first phase of Shared Services reform; and

other minor variations totalling +97.

(3) An externally led review of shared services has recently been finalised. Graduate programs were included in the scope of the Review. Formal decisions will soon be made with regard to the adoption of a shared services model.

The development of shared services is consistent with Defence's budgetary goal to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of expenditure on a range of internal services. The adoption of a shared services approach would involve changes to the administration of graduate programs in Defence. No reductions to graduate recruitment levels are currently planned. No changes are currently planned for cadetship programs.