House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Water Security Office WATER SECURITY OFFICE In reply to Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly MacKillop WATER SECURITY OFFICE In reply to Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (13 February 2008). The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD House of Assembly Chaffey Minister for the River Murray Minister for Water Security Minister for Regional Development Minister for Small Business Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Trade WATER SECURITY OFFICE The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Trade): I am advised the Office for Water Security is being established as a division within the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) to consolidate and augment the strategic water policy capacity within the South Australian government. Staff Numbers Staff of the Office for Water Security (OWS) will total approximately 21 employees. These positions consist of: Eight existing positions and associated funding from within DWLBC Three existing positions and associated funding from SA Water will be transferred to OWS. All existing positions from DWLBC and SA Water are cost neutral and any transitional costs are being met from within existing agency budgets. Up to 10 new positions; Eight new water policy positions will be created; A new Commissioner for Water Security will be appointed; and An administrative support position. Budget The budget for the 10 new positions and associated costs is: $1.01 million in 2007-08; $1.517 million in 2008-09 increasing to; $1.672 million in 2011-12 and ongoing.