PUBLIC SECTOR LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

In reply to the Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (21 June 2012) (Estimates Committee A).

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

In accordance with the Public Sector Act 2009, the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has issued a determination in relation to the application of attraction/retention allowances. Chief Executives may exercise their discretion and typically utilise such allowances to attract and/or retain individual employees:

in skill shortage/specialist areas including information and communication technology, forensic pathology, finance, medical, engineering and mining;

in country and remote locations; and

when it is necessary to match the market rate for equivalent private sector roles.

The Public Sector Skills and Experience Retention Entitlement proposed in the 2012-13 Budget papers is distinct from the attraction/retention allowance and it is not an individual based allowance. Rather, this measure is aimed at providing an additional incentive for experienced employees to remain in the public sector.

The productivity benefits of such a measure would be difficult to measure precisely. However, within the context of the budgetary pressures outlined within the 2012-13 Budget and a tightening labour market, the loss of these employees would result in the loss of experience, corporate knowledge and potentially hinder the transfer of skills within the public sector.

Therefore the new leave retention entitlement seeks to maintain this knowledge and experience.