EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

In reply to Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (27 June 2007) (Estimates Committee A).

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change): The Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) has advised the following:

The increase which the member for Hammond wrongly refers to as a blow-out of $4.586 million from 2005-06 actual to 2007-08 budget is due to vacancies within DTED at 30 June 2006 and the change in the level of approved positions.

DTED's budgeted FTEs increased from 191.8 FTEs at 30 June 2006 to 197.00 FTEs at 30 June 2007, an increase of 5.2 FTEs as a result of the following:

Additional 3 FTEs for positions specifically to cater for indigenous trainees;

Additional 2 FTEs transferred from the former Department for Administrative and Information Services (DAIS) to resource the Olympic Dam Taskforce offset by a reduction of 1 FTE no longer required in the team as Mr Paul Case was transferred to take up the chief executive role;

Additional 3 FTEs for new Tradestart officers as a result of winning the Tradestart contract with the commonwealth;

Additional 3.2 FTEs for the conversion of long-term contractors to Public Sector Management Act 1995 employees;

Offset by the anticipated reduction of 5.00 FTEs for the Industry Capability Network SA (ICNSA) due to contract term and funding expected to expire 30 June 2007.

DTED's budgeted FTEs increased from 197.0 FTEs at 30 June 2007 to 206.00 FTEs at 30 June 2008, an increase of 9.0 FTEs as a result of the following:

Additional 4 FTEs for programs approved by cabinet in the 2007-08 State Budget—employment linkages program, Australia-India Trade and Investment Conference, regionalisation of South Australia's Strategic Plan and the Film SA Package;

Additional 5 FTEs for the extension of the ICNSA. (funding and FTEs approved by Cabinet);

Additional 2 FTEs for the case management framework unit (previously FTEs were seconded to this unit and were funded by PIRSA);

Offset by 2 FTEs for anticipated reduction in redeployees due to placement in other agencies.

Overall there has been an increase in DTED's budgeted FTEs of 14.2 FTEs (from 191.8 FTEs at 30 June 2006 to 206.0 FTEs at 30 June 2008).

DTED has traditionally experienced difficulties in filling vacancies, with the key skills sets required by DTED including industry experience, economics and/or government policy development all in short supply. The 2005-06 actual reflects the shortfall of suitably qualified/experienced people in the workforce. As at 30 June 2006, DTED recorded 34 vacancies. The increase of $4.586 million from 2005-06 actual to 2007-08 budget therefore represents the difference between the actual FTEs and DTED's budgeted FTEs at 30 June 2008.