Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans ' Affairs , upon notice, on 13 September 2011:

(1)   Have staffing numbers in agencies within the Minister's portfolio been reduced as a result of the efficiency dividend and/or other budget cuts; if so, in which areas and at what classification.

(2)   Are there any plans for staff reduction in agencies within the Minister's portfolio; if so, can details be provided i.e. reduction target, how this will be achieved, services/programs to be cut etc.

(3)   What changes are underway or planned for graduate recruitment, cadetships or similar programs, and if reductions are envisaged can details be provided, including reasons, target numbers etc.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

For The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA):

(1)   No.

(2)   As shown in the Portfolio Budget Statement of 10 May 2011, the Department plans to achieve a marginal reduction from, 1,971 ASL for the 2010/11 financial year, to a figure of 1,950 ASL for the 2011/12 financial year by natural attrition. There will be no impact on service delivery, and no cuts to services/programs.

(3)   There are no reductions envisaged for graduate recruitment and cadetships. Indeed, recruitment to the Department's graduate program has increased from 14 to 16, and Indigenous cadetships have increased from zero to six.

For The Australian War Memorial (AWM):

(1)   No.

(2)   No.

(3)   None.