Page 5657 - Week 17 - Thursday, 5 December 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR CONNOLLY: This Government never meddles in operational procedures. Throughout Aidex, the police exercised their operational discretion as they ordinarily do. I would not advise police to act sooner or later than their judgment dictates.
Government Service - Staff Reductions
MR DUBY: My question is addressed, I believe, to the Chief Minister. It is about staffing and redundancy matters. Mr Berry seems to be the person who is answering those questions. Could I have clarification as to whom I should address that question to?
Mr Berry: Ask the question first.
Ms Follett: It depends on what the question is.
MR DUBY: It has to do with the recognition of staff made redundant by the reduction in staff levels of the ACT Government. Can the Chief Minister provide figures - obviously, she will not have them on hand - as to how many staff have actually been identified as being surplus to requirements? Can she provide a breakdown of positions? I do not want names, of course; I am talking about positions. Can she state whether they are white-collar workers or blue-collar workers?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Duby for the question, and I acknowledge his concern about staff who might find themselves in that position. I think it is true to say that the budget requirements that have been passed by this Assembly for all areas of the ACT administration have involved those areas in a continuing process of negotiation with the trade unions and affected staff. At this point, I think it would not be possible to answer the kind of question that Mr Duby has asked about specific numbers and classifications of staff. I suspect that, in fact, it will not be until the conclusion of this whole process - that is, at about budget time next year - that we will be able to look back and see whether budget targets across the administration were achieved by staffing measures or by other measures. Many areas are utilising other measures.
With the best will in the world, I do not believe that it is possible to give Mr Duby the detail that he seeks at the moment. I can only say that it has, of course, been a consultative process, one which has been not without pain in all areas of the administration. I know that members are aware of the commitment to observe the provisions of the RRR award, which applies in these matters. Members would also be aware of the Government's intention not to have an undue impact on certain classifications of employees, mostly those in EEO identified groups. I acknowledge Mr Duby's concern, but I am afraid that we will have to wait some time before we will be able to give the overview and the breakdown that he seeks.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .