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

asked the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism, upon notice, on 18 September 2012:

In regard to the 2012-13 financial year:

(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.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to 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 net financial effect on the Departments' 2012-13 budget of:

(a) the original 1.5 percent efficiency dividend was $0.160 million

(b) the additional 2.5 percent efficiency dividend was $2.095 million

(c) other saving measures as introduced in the 2012-13 Budget paper was $0.127 million

(2) The Department has set a balanced budget for 2012-13, which is regularly analysed and reported to senior management for their information and review. The Department will undertake budget reviews as required during 2012-13 to ensure the Department operates within budget.

(3) In 2012-13, staff costs represent approximately 65 percent of budgeted expenditure.

(4) The Department expects a small reduction in staff numbers in 2012-13. It is not possible to quantify at this time whether or not the Department will reduce its engagement of consultants, and/or contractors in 2012-13.

(5) In 2012-13, the Department is not expecting to execute any voluntary or involuntary redundancies.

(6) Current distribution of full-time equivalent staff across classification bands as at 30 September 2012 is as follows:

Classification Band

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