State Development Department

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Please allow Ms Lee to ask her question. The minister responsible probably won't hear it.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Thank you, Mr President. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about the merger of two government departments.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: I refer to the announcement made by the Weatherill government in relation to the creation of the new state development department through the merger of the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology and the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy. There seems to be a lot of confusion out there—some of which has already been raised by the Hon. Rob Lucas—and the public needs to know the impact of the merger. My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm how many FTEs will be cut from the merging departments and where those FTEs savings will be found?

2. Will there be any changes to tenancy and accommodation arrangements; if so, what will be the total cost of those arrangements?

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) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions. In the announcements of a new Department of State Development—which includes the amalgamation of DFEEST and DMITRE—it was indicated that an estimated 20 FTEs are likely to be savings in that amalgamation. The exact location of those FTEs still needs to be worked through but, in terms of areas where there is possible duplication or replication and improved efficiencies, through the combined efforts of agencies that have similar operations, particularly back of house operations, it's estimated that there is a potential 20 FTE saving.

In relation to the details of those other matters, as I have indicated, a process has been established to help work through those transition arrangements. It is a time of change, and I certainly acknowledge that it does cause anxiety when people are uncertain. However, we seek to work through those issues as quickly and as efficiently as we can.

The benefits of the new agency will be significant. It will be a great economic driving agency for this state. It will help drive and leverage growth in the economy. It will have a major role in administering our job plan. It will help coordinate the government's engagement with small to medium businesses and help foster innovation and growth in investment and trade, and bring together the responsibility for skills, employment and science.

There will be many benefits from this and, as I said, we are working through those operational issues as quickly and as efficiently as we can.