PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

246 Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (13 July 2011) (First Session). With respect to 2011-12 Budget Paper 4—Volume 3, p124, Workforce Summary—

1. Why was there a reduction in staff in the Department of Premier and Cabinet?

2. Why will the 'net cost of providing services' increase by $5.6 million in 2011-12, when the Department plans to employ about 56 less staff?

3. Will any Divisions be removed from the Department or transferred to another Department in 2011-12?

4. What are the functions of the 3 FTEs outlined in 'Administered Items for the Department of Premier and Cabinet'?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development): I have been advised of the following:

The 2011-12 FTE Budget is 799.8 compared with the 2010 11 Estimated Result of 856.1. The reduction in FTEs of 56.3 is largely due to FTE savings reductions for 2011-12 approved through the 2010-11 Budget and the 2008-09 Mid-Year Budget Review.

The 2011-12 Estimated Result of $246.7 million has a higher net cost of service when compared with the 2010-11 Estimated Result of $241.1 million primarily due to the effect of carryovers associated with the Renewables SA initiative and new funding in 2011-12 associated with the future management of essential services in remote Aboriginal communities.

The staff numbers disclosed in the 2011-12 Budget Papers do not take into account the machinery of government changes announced on 21 October 2011.

The 3 FTEs reflected in the Administered Items for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet are the Premier, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and the Agent General.