Director of Public Prosecutions Office

97 The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (25 October 2018). Can the Attorney-General advise:

1. How the increase in the 2018-19 budget for the Director of Public Prosecutions Office is broken down and advise what is the increase of $21,000 in 'other expenses'?

2. Where are the additional 14 FTEs going to be working, what level will they be, what role or function will they fulfil, how many FTEs are currently engaged, and does the Attorney- General expect to fill all FTE positions budgeted for?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Attorney-General has provided the following advice:

1. The increase in the budget, as per the budget papers, for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) includes direct increases relating to additional funding of $750,000 for complex criminal cases, additional funding in the 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Review of $1.2 million, annual indexation of approximately $425,000 and an increase in depreciation of $173,000 attributable mainly to the new Prosecution Management System.

This is offset by additional savings allocated to the Attorney-General's Department as part of, or prior to, the 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Review and an increase in indirect costs, mainly due to the transfer of SafeWork SA and South Australian Employment Tribunal. The increase in 'other expenses' in the 2018-19 budget is due to a once-off reclassification of this budget in 2017-18.

2. The increase is mainly due to an increase in resourcing for the confiscations section and additional resources provided in the 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Review. However, it is expected that these increases will be mostly offset by savings that were also allocated to the Attorney-General's Department as part of, or prior to, the 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Review.