PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:23): Can the Treasurer update the house on the status of the government's plan to cut 1,571 public sector jobs over four years, as announced in the 2006-07 budget as part of the Greg Smith review? When questioned about these cuts during the 2006-07 estimates, the Treasurer said:

It is Treasury's best estimate as to what the FTE impact will be on the savings that have been provided by the agencies.

The Treasurer told The Advertiser at the 2006-07 budget lock-up on 21 September 2006 in relation to these job cuts that:

This is the most significant public sector reform any South Australian state government has embarked on. What this is doing is taking from just about every single government agency.

But when asked during the 2008-09 estimates question period to provide an update on these planned job cuts, the Treasurer wanted to see the 2006-07 budget reference before he would comment.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (15:24): This government, since coming to office, has been a very prudent manager of the state's finances. It is this government that restored the state's AAA credit rating. It is this government that maintains fiscal discipline—fiscal discipline that members opposite find is a foreign concept. We had this stupid interjection by the deputy leader saying that we should borrow $1.2 billion and give it to Families SA instead of using it to lend as house loans. What a silly—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: For goodness sake, one would hope she would never be given the Treasury portfolio, if they ever find themselves in government.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You're my worst nightmare? Yes, you'd better believe it; you certainly are. You are dead right there. One day the opposition is in there saying that we hire too many public servants; the next day we get criticised because we are cutting public servants.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: In just about every budget, this government has put forward, from before Greg Smith and since Greg Smith, ongoing savings requirements from agencies. Savings requirements almost invariably lead to certain reduction in FTE positions. Those savings targets are monitored by the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet and Treasury, and those savings in most part are being met. I do not have the exact numbers in front of me. What I do know is that, from a savings point of view, I am quite comfortable with the results to date.