SHARED SERVICES SA

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (14:53): My question is to the Minister for Finance.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the member for Goyder.

Mr GRIFFITHS: And I was speaking loudly, too, sir. Can the Minister for Finance advise how long it will take to fill the vacant office space set aside for the Office of Shared Services, and how much rent has been paid for these unused properties?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:54): Suitable accommodation of the required size comes onto the Adelaide market infrequently, and the Adelaide CBD office accommodation vacancy rate is currently running at 2.6 per cent. We have investigated and secured accommodation that meets the organisation's requirements.

The implementation of shared services reform is at a crucial stage, with the transition of accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll services, involving approximately 1,300 employees, due for completion by December 2008. Given the lumpy availability of suitable accommodation in the Adelaide CBD, Shared Services SA has secured the necessary space as close as prudent to the date of transition of these staff and services.

Shared Services SA occupies nine levels in Westpac House and the accommodation will be fully occupied by the end of this year by accounts payable and accounts receivable services. Lease conditions for Westpac House comprise several favourably negotiated considerations, including a rent-free period and fit-out provided at no cost. This has had the effect of minimising the period during which rent was paid for unoccupied space. In the short term, to further mitigate cost and to ease other agency accommodation pressures, part of Level 3 in Westpac House has been subleased to the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. In addition, Wakefield House, which is a government-owned building, will be progressively occupied by Shared Services SA. Currently, it occupies only three levels of this building, with the remaining floors occupied by other government agencies until Shared Services SA requires those floors.