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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-18 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The value of the public sector has become a substantial issue of debate in recent days, both here and interstate. I rise to advise the house about the make up of the South Australian Public Sector and the appropriate size of the public sector.

This is a serious matter for public debate but, like all serious debates, it should proceed from a common understanding of the facts. As at 30 June 2011, the date for which we have the most comprehensive published data about the composition of the public sector, there were 101,485 people employed, or 84,882 full-time equivalents; and 33,537 of those full-time equivalents were police, doctors, nurses and teachers. That is almost 40 per cent of the public sector. The numbers and proportion of the overall sector has increased substantially in this group since 2002.

Of those FTEs, 23,775 were in other frontline or direct support roles: firefighters, ambulance officers, allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists or radiographers, school services officers at our local schools, disability workers, and so forth; and 27,570 of those FTEs were employed in policy or administrative roles. Many of these roles are vital for the prosperity of the state or the wellbeing of our citizens.

For instance, consider our mining division within the Department of Manufacturing, Industry, Trade, Resources and Energy. We are regarded as one of the leading jurisdictions in the world for mining regulation and approvals, in no small part because of the team of world-class public servants who facilitate the speedy and certain determination of mining approvals.

So when cuts of up to 35,000 people from the public sector are foreshadowed, the community needs to appreciate that this necessarily means cuts to the groups of workers—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —who we rely on in times of need, and necessarily means affecting the level and quality of services that the community has come to expect. Undoubtedly we can improve the quality and effectiveness of our Public Service. This is why we have acted in this area, including by creating a new Public Sector Act, and by establishing the Government Reform Commission and the Public Sector Performance Commission, and pursuing the many initiatives developed by those bodies; and we will build on this work. But that improvement should proceed from a position that regards the Public Service as an asset whose value we should realise and not a burden which needs to be minimised.

On indulgence, as members would be aware, since we last sat the Prime Minister's father, John Gillard, passed away aged 83. John Gillard came from the coal mining valleys of Wales. He came from a life of hardship. He was a man of humble beginnings who sought to give his daughters the best possible education opportunities, the education opportunities that he did not have for himself. The Prime Minister often referred to her parents in speeches and spoke lovingly of the sacrifices they had made to ensure that she was given every chance to succeed. I know that all members and, indeed, all South Australians join me in passing on their sympathies to the Prime Minister, her mother, Moira, and her sister, Alison.

I would also like to say a few words on the tragic passing of Port Adelaide footballer John McCarthy. John was only 22. He had spent several years at the Collingwood Football Club after being drafted as a teenager. He joined Port Adelaide this year and played in 21 of our 22 games. He will be greatly missed by everyone at Port Adelaide and our thoughts are with the club, especially John's team mates and staff. I also extend my deepest sympathies to John's parents, Shane and Cath, his brother, Matt, his sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Jane, and his girlfriend, Dani.

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