FURTHER EDUCATION

49 Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (10 July 2007). Why did the actual cost of regulating South Australia's Further Education and Training system exceed the budgeted amount by $1.5 million in 2006-07?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling): As shown in Budget Paper 4 Volume 3 on page 13.15 of the 2007-08 Portfolio Statement, the 2006-07 estimated result for the net cost of Sub-program 1.3 Regulatory Services was $5.8 million compared to the 2006-07 budget of $4.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million.

The increase mainly reflects the impact of additional costs arising from the 3.5 per cent enterprise bargaining increase approved in 2006-07 for PSM Act employees, additional funding approved for COAG initiatives in 2006-07 and an improvement in the method used for allocating expenses to the sub-program in calculating the 2006-07 estimated result.