Remote Work

In reply to Mr BATTY (Bragg) (24 June 2024). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy): I have been advised that for the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science:

A separate budget was not allocated for remote work. Rather, remote work capabilities are inherently enabled by the department’s technology infrastructure and costs managed within existing budgets. This includes the replacement of laptops (over a three-year cycle) as the primary device for staff and cybersecurity measures that account for remote connectivity.

Based on the above, the estimated expenditure for technology related to remote work has averaged approximately $1,000 per FTE per annum in the current financial year and in the last two financial years. This represents approximately 0.2 per cent of the department’s budget for the 2023-24 financial year.