PUBLIC SECTOR RENEWAL PROGRAM

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:27): My question is to the Premier in his role as Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister describe the progress of the government's plans to renew the public sector and any barriers to their achievement?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:27): Earlier this year, we started our program of these 90-day projects as part of the public sector renewal program, Change@SA, and we have recently started the third round of those projects. Through this program we aim to make significant projects in 90 days that might otherwise have taken quite a long time; and many of these reform projects in the past have got stuck.

Examples of what we have achieved to date include ensuring healthy patients can go home from hospital earlier, offences are heard earlier in our courts, connecting passengers to public transport in real time, and we have reduced the number of excess employees by almost 60 per cent in the last two years, delivering savings of $18.3 million. We are making other sensible efficiencies while protecting front-line services. That is why in the last three years, as a percentage of the workforce, there has been a 3 per cent increase in front-line workers and a 2 per cent decrease in back-office staff.

The South Australian public sector consists of 103,649 people, or 85,727 full-time equivalents. I believe that, as Minister for the Public Sector, it is incumbent on those putting themselves forward to be elected to high office that they should be clear about what the future is for the South Australian public sector. We have been clear about our policies. This week, though, is a very important anniversary. It is a year since the Liberal Party announced its decision to slash 25,000 public sector jobs. It is a year since—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

Mr PISONI: Point of order: the Premier is not responsible for the Liberal Party.

The SPEAKER: Yes it's true, but I will listen further to see if it is a violation of standing orders. While I do so I will call the member for West Torrens to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is a year since the member for MacKillop confirmed that the Liberal Party was of one mind in cutting the Public Service and they were very consistent with the views of everybody in the party room.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: how can the Premier at all be responsible in respect of matters of the opposition? This is just a nonsense. This is debate and, poor as it is, it ought to be brought into line.

The SPEAKER: It is the opposition's question time. These points of order occupy so much of question time. I will listen carefully to what the Premier has to say, and perhaps the deputy leader could light votive candles and hope that it will only be four minutes.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This week also marks another milestone. It is seven months since the current Leader of the Opposition promised to release a policy on the public sector in the coming weeks.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: I don't think the Premier has got a clause out since your last point of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: Indeed. I haven't heard your ruling on the other two, but you simply allowed the Premier to continue without any indication, and I would ask you to rule on whether the statements and claims of conduct in relation to opposition members are any responsibility of the government and, therefore, out of order.

The SPEAKER: I am listening carefully and I have not yet detected a violation of standing orders, but I will listen. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Mr Speaker, in March this promise was whittled down to a direction statement and then we had an audit commission which is now changed; because that is such an ugly word 'audit commission', they changed it to the productivity commission.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: The member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Mr Speaker, the question was very specifically asking the Premier to tell the house about his plans to renew the public sector, and he is straying from that under standing order 98.

The SPEAKER: I will read the Hansard and I will rebuke the Premier if necessary if the question is as you say it is. At the moment, the Premier—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Can I ask for the question to be re-read?

The SPEAKER: No, you can't. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I am addressing the question because one of the barriers to the achievement is, I think, the morale and uncertainty that have dived since the speculation about the future security of their employment. We know that it is commonplace between both parties that the 'no forced redundancy policy' will go. I think these 100,000-odd workers do want to know what their future is.

We'll continue to renew the public sector and focus on accelerating better quality and more innovative services. I think it is incumbent upon the opposition leader to tell us, and to come clean about where he intends to make cuts to the South Australian public sector. That is in the interests of the public sector to know where their future lies so they can make an assessment for themselves about how they address themselves in their workplace.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Supplementary.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Happy anniversary!

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for West Torrens for the first time.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: In 11 years! Mr Speaker, my question—

The SPEAKER: No. The member for Davenport will be seated, and I call him to order. The member for Colton.

Mr MARSHALL: Sorry, I had a supplementary for that question as well.

The SPEAKER: Well, we'll come back to it.

Mr MARSHALL: It will break the flow, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I am all in favour of flow but the flow has been interrupted by the gratuitous remarks of the member for Davenport.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: It might have been the start of my question, Mr Speaker; you just don't know.

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Davenport for the first time.