PUBLIC SECTOR LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:45): My question is to the Treasurer. Has the government decided yet how to best provide incentives to recognise and retain experienced Public Service workers in response to the government's cuts to long service leave entitlements announced in the 2010-11 budget? If so, what is the cost to budget? In the 2010-11 budget, the government announced cuts to the long service leave for the public sector, totalling about $30 million per year. In response to lobbying from the Public Service Association on 4 June 2011, the Treasurer told the media that he was setting up 'an urgent process to make recommendations directly back to me before the end of the year on how best to provide incentives that recognise and retain experienced public sector workers'.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:46): There have been a number of meetings between me and various public sector unions. Those meetings are continuing, and I expect it to be dealt with in the context of this year's budget.