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 Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform; Minister for Housing and Homelessness; and Minister for Community Services and Minister for the Status of Women, upon notice, on 18 September 2012:

In regard to the 2012-13 financial year:

(1) What is the net financial effect on the department's budget of: (a) the original 1.5 per cent efficiency dividend; (b) the additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend; and (c) other savings measures as introduced in the 2012-13 Budget papers.

(2) What measures or strategies are being considered to ensure continued operation within the budget and efficiency dividend targets of the department.

(3) What percentage of total expenditure is represented by staff costs.

(4) Is a net reduction in: (a) staff; and (b) consultants and/​or contractors, expected for the financial year; if so, can a quantitative total for each reduction be provided.

(5) How many: (a) voluntary redundancies; and (b) involuntary redundancies, are expected to be executed.

(6) What is the current distribution of full-time equivalent staff across classification bands.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform; Minister for Housing and Homelessness; and Minister for Community Services and Minister for the Status of Women provides the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

( 1 ) For the 2012-13 financial year, the net effect on the department ' s budget of:

(a) The original 1.5 per cent efficiency dividend is $8.9 million.

(b) The additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend is $11.5 million.

(c) Other savings measures as introduced in the 2012-13 Budget papers is ' Nil ' .

(2) The Department's primary strategy for managing within budget has been to set balanced budgets early and carefully monitor and regularly review these budgets.

In addition, there is a continuing focus on business improvements and reducing operational costs wherever possible. Examples include:

( 3 ) The Department ' s 2012-13 budgeted employee benefits expense is 57% of total expenses.

(4) Quantity of expected net reduction:

(a) A net reduction in staff is not expected for the 2012-13 financial year.

(b) It is too early to predict the quantity of any reduction in consultants and/ ​ or contractors for this financial year.

( 5 ) Redundancies in 2012-13:

(a) We do not currently have any specific plans or targets for voluntary redundancies.

(b) We do not currently have any specific plans or targets for involuntary redundancies.

( 6 ) The Department ' s staffing profile is available in the 2010-11 Annual Report at Appendix B, Table B-2.