Ministerial Staff

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about ministerial staffing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: During the estimates process, the minister was asked a question as to why the 2024-25 budget saw an increase in FTEs in her ministerial office from 10 FTEs in the previous 2023-24 budget to 11 FTEs this financial year. The minister, in her reply, said, 'The budget includes an FTE cap of 11,' and, 'As of 31 May, nine of these 11 positions are filled,' and further:

An additional business support position was included in the initial structure for my office but is currently held vacant. If business demands require filling this position, the total budgeted FTEs in the office will be 12 officers.

My question to the minister is: given the minister has lost elements of her portfolio, in the way of the shift of the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner into DPC, can the minister explain why her staff budgeted allocation has increased from 10 to 12 FTEs, given her workload has decreased?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for her question, although I am very disappointed to hear that she thinks the primary industries portfolio, which includes regional development as well as forestry, is not important enough to warrant a reasonable staffing allocation. Clearly, she doesn't think that the issues that are raised are particularly—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —important. Clearly, all her talk about the importance of primary industries is just that—it's just talk. She thinks that the ministerial office—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —shouldn't have appropriate staffing. One of the other aspects is that—I think I responded in estimates—one of the positions is currently vacant. In terms of the Cross Border Commissioner, the suggestion that that, therefore, represents a significant reduction in workload I think really does demonstrate the lack of understanding of those opposite, the absolute lack of understanding from those opposite of what is involved in a commissioner's role.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: If those opposite, including the honourable Leader of the Opposition in this place, is not interested enough to even listen to the answer to her question, it really does demonstrate how interested she is in the topic to start with.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!