Answers to Questions

ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

71 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (31 July 2007).

1. How many more employees have been employed under the Economic Strategy and Policy Development Program as a result of the increase to employee benefits and costs of $398,000 in 2007-08?

2. How many fulltime Public Sector employees and contractors, respectively, are employed under this Program and what is the cost of employing contractors?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations): The Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) has advised the following:

With respect to this program, the difference between the 2006-07 Estimated Result ($2,289,000) and the 2007-08 Budget ($2,852,000) for employee benefits and costs is $563,000, not $398,000.

As at 30 June 2007 this strategy included 22 approved establishment FTEs. The anticipated recruitment to two Workforce Development Unit vacancies within the 22 establishment number represents a $153,000 portion of the $563,000 increase for 2007-08.

22 approved Public Sector Management Act establishment FTEs are to be employed under this program. In 2006-07 there was a total of nine different contractors employed within this program at a total cost of $404,817.

As a footnote, the overall $563,000 increase is due mainly to the following:

Increase of $240,000 in the Office of the Economic Development Board for Competitiveness Council staff which is offset by a reduction in the Policy Development Unit

Increase of $153,000 due to anticipated recruitment of staff in the Workforce Development Unit

Increase of $113,000 in support costs to the Economic Development Board for 2007-08.