Answers to Questions

Long Service Leave

22 The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (3 December 2014). For each department or agency then reporting to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation—

1. What is the estimated long service leave liability as at 30 June 2014 in days and dollars?

2. What is the highest long service leave entitlement that has not been taken for any employee, as at 30 June 2014, in days and dollars?

3. (a) What funding, as at 30 June 2014, was held in accounts controlled or administered by the Department or Agency to fund long service leave; and

(b) What were the names of the accounts and total funds held in these accounts as at 30 June 2014?

4. (a) What policies, and monitoring of these policies, are in place to ensure that there is not a build-up of long service leave liability within the department or agency; and

(b) Are employees required to take long service leave after a certain level of entitlement has accrued?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): I am advised the following:

1. Forty thousand and eighty eight days and $11,933,000.

2. Four hundred and thirty five days and $201,931.

3. (a) The department had access to cash balances held in the then Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) operating account and the accrual appropriation reserve to fund long service leave liabilities.

(b) The DMITRE operating account held a balance of $18.2 million and the accrual appropriation reserve held a balance of $4.0 million.

4. (a) Long service leave is managed in accordance with the Department of State Development (DSD) Leave Procedure and Commissioner's Determination 3.1: Employment Conditions—Leave. DSD regularly monitors the long service leave liability through its workforce reports. There is no requirement for employees to take long service leave as it accrues, however DSD encourages a planned approach to the taking of such leave.

(b) As per the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment's determination, the department is unable to direct employees to apply for and take long service leave.