Question Time

Skills and Employment Websites

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills questions about the skills and employment websites.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: I was informed by constituents that an email was sent at 11.48am yesterday and that the following skills and employment websites were unavailable: WorkReady eNewsletter website; Training and Skills Commission website; and Office of the Training Advocate website. These websites have been listed as 'under maintenance' for more than 24 hours now—it just came up and I saw them. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister advise why these websites were unavailable for users during working hours?

2. Why did the department undertake maintenance for these websites on a weekday at a time that potentially attracts a high amount of traffic?

3. Due the unavailability of the websites, did the department organise additional staff to monitor phone inquiries?

4. Can the minister advise whether the maintenance work for these websites are conducted by an internal IT officer or did the department outsource the work and, if so, how much in total in maintenance costs have been incurred?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. It is very disappointing to learn that these important websites were out of action—if they have been—for as long as the honourable member has indicated. I was not aware that they were down. I can only assume that it was completely unavoidable. As I said, it is very disappointing that they were down for so long, and I will certainly investigate it.