Senate debates

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Questions on Notice

Defence: Staffing (Question No. 1586)

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications – Military Workforce':

(1) As at 31 December 2011, how many civilian personnel, full time and part time, were employed in implementing the White Paper initiatives.

(2) As at 1 July and 31 December 2011:

(a) how many civilian personnel were employed; and

(b) in what programs.

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

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

(1) and (2) (a)-(b) The Government provisioned an additional 1,556 civilian personnel (Defence inclusive of the Defence Materiel Organisation, including Australian Public Service staff and contractors) for 2011-12 under the White Paper, as reflected in the publication The Strategic Reform Program: Making It Happen and updated at Table 2.14 of the Defence Annual Report 2010-11. This provision applied on both 1 July and 31 December 2011.

The workforce data detailed in both publications are based on approved allocations at the time of publication and reflect full-time equivalent average numbers. Using the full-time equivalent (FTE) approach, Defence counts full-time and part-time service as one overall average quantity.

This workforce has been allocated across all Defence Groups to implement a range of White Paper initiatives including the Defence Capability Plan.

These Australian Public Service personnel ranged from junior to senior officers on an as needed basis according to the particular White Paper initiatives being actioned.

Because of the breadth and depth of the White Paper initiatives, the number of personnel varied throughout the specified period and it is not possible to provide a specific total referenced to each White Paper initiative.