❓ A parliamentary question probes the government's commitment to funding the Rottnest Island Authority, specifically regarding a promised $14 million and a significant increase in employee expenses. The Minister acknowledges the funding commitment and explains the rise in expenses due to wage parity and expanded responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 949Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the minister confirm that the Labor Party had promised to put an extra $14 million into the Rottnest Island Authority over four years? (2) Can the minister indicate how much of that promise has been met, including in this year’s budget? (3) Was the minister aware of staffing changes within the authority that resulted in employee expenses rising from $4.81 million in 2001-02 to $6.42 million in 2002-03 - an increase of 33.3 per cent, which accounts for much of the deterioration in the authority’s finances last year? Hon KEN TRAVERS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(2) Can the minister indicate how much of that promise has been met, including in this year’s budget? (3) Was the minister aware of staffing changes within the authority that resulted in employee expenses rising from $4.81 million in 2001-02 to $6.42 million in 2002-03 - an increase of 33.3 per cent, which accounts for much of the deterioration in the authority’s finances last year? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(3) Was the minister aware of staffing changes within the authority that resulted in employee expenses rising from $4.81 million in 2001-02 to $6.42 million in 2002-03 - an increase of 33.3 per cent, which accounts for much of the deterioration in the authority’s finances last year? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(2) Can the minister indicate how much of that promise has been met, including in this year’s budget? (3) Was the minister aware of staffing changes within the authority that resulted in employee expenses rising from $4.81 million in 2001-02 to $6.42 million in 2002-03 - an increase of 33.3 per cent, which accounts for much of the deterioration in the authority’s finances last year? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(3) Was the minister aware of staffing changes within the authority that resulted in employee expenses rising from $4.81 million in 2001-02 to $6.42 million in 2002-03 - an increase of 33.3 per cent, which accounts for much of the deterioration in the authority’s finances last year? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(1) The Government’s election platform envisaged that $14 million would be provided and that this amount would come from a combination of consolidated fund and Rottnest Island Authority internal resources. (2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(2) Capital funding from the consolidated fund is set out in the budget papers. (3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(3) The minister is aware of the budget and the financial statements of the Rottnest Island Authority. He is aware that employee expenses have increased due to - (i) a decision by the Government to lift the wages of Rottnest Island Authority employees to parity with other government employees. The minister was not prepared to allow a continuation of the position he inherited when Rottnest Island employees were the lowest-paid state government employees; and (ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
(ii) the wages costs have also increased as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the bike hire and golf course, which themselves generate additional revenue.
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