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

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 18 September 2012:

(1) What is the net financial effect on the department's budget of:

(a) the original 1.5 per cent efficiency dividend;

(b) the additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend; and

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

(2) What measures or strategies are being considered to ensure continued operation within the budget and efficiency dividend targets of the department.

(3) What percentage of total expenditure is represented by staff costs.

(4) Is a net reduction in:

(a) staff; and

(b) consultants and/or contractors, expected for the financial year; if so, can a quantitative total for each reduction be provided.

(5) How many:

(a) voluntary redundancies; and

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

(6) What is the current distribution of full-time equivalent staff across classification bands.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1)

(2) Measures and strategies currently being considered and implemented by the department to ensure continued operation within the budget and efficiency dividend targets include:

- A net reduction in ASL of 111 in 2012-13 (67 through corporate rationalisation; 44 in policy areas; transfer of staff into vacant import clearance activities in airports).

- A reduction in supplier costs (20 per cent in media, travel, official hospitality and consultants; 10 per cent in all other supplier categories such as training, rent and depreciation).

(3) The percentage of total expenditure represented by staff costs is 68.44 per cent.

(4) (a) A net reduction in staffing of 111 ASL in 2012-13 is expected.

(b) In 2012-13, DAFF has budgeted for a net reduction in consultants and other temporary or contract staff of $4.762m.

(5) (a) There are no voluntary redundancies planned in 2012-13.

(b) There are no involuntary redundancies planned in 2012-13.

(6)