House of Assembly: Thursday, February 10, 2011

Contents

PUBLIC SECTOR LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:48): My question is again to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer confirm that former treasurer Foley and Treasury missed the broader implications of allowing the cashing out of long service leave for non-executive public servants when it costed the proposed changes to the Public Sector Act and, as a result, cabinet signed off on the policy unaware of the policy change and the impact it would have on state debt, resulting in treasurer Foley writing to minister Weatherill:

I am concerned that this significant change in employee entitlements does not appear to have been brought to the attention of cabinet during the approval process. To this end, was a significant broadening of the payout arrangements intentional or an oversight in drafting of the legislation? If it was intentional, what was the motivation?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:49): Again, allow me to get an opportunity to be briefed on this issue by my department. I will come back to the parliament with a full report.