❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Treasurer regarding discrepancies in reported public sector FTE figures and the application of a freeze/cap. The Treasurer's response confirms the freeze applies to the 37,000 figure while highlighting overall FTE reductions and budget management.
AnsweredQoN 299Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR — FULL-TIME
EQUIVALENTS CAP
299. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
When asked about the full-time equivalent freeze or cap
yesterday, the Treasurer stated —
I do not know what 37 000 the
member is referring to. I think the member has failed to do any research on his
question.
I also refer to the former Treasurer's answer two weeks
ago to the question: what is the total public sector cap? He stated —
It is 37 763 full-time equivalent
positions.
The freeze applies to that 37 763.
(1) Does the
FTE freeze or cap apply to the former Treasurer's figures of 37 763 or
to the figure that the Treasurer expressed yesterday of the entire public service
of ''110 000 or thereabouts''?
(2) If the
Treasurer is indeed now applying the freeze or cap to the entire public
service, what impact will that have on the expected savings as originally
estimated by the former Treasurer?
(3) What is
the expected figure for the entire public service for when the freeze or cap
expires at the end of 2013–14 financial year?
EQUIVALENTS CAP
299. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
When asked about the full-time equivalent freeze or cap
yesterday, the Treasurer stated —
I do not know what 37 000 the
member is referring to. I think the member has failed to do any research on his
question.
I also refer to the former Treasurer's answer two weeks
ago to the question: what is the total public sector cap? He stated —
It is 37 763 full-time equivalent
positions.
The freeze applies to that 37 763.
(1) Does the
FTE freeze or cap apply to the former Treasurer's figures of 37 763 or
to the figure that the Treasurer expressed yesterday of the entire public service
of ''110 000 or thereabouts''?
(2) If the
Treasurer is indeed now applying the freeze or cap to the entire public
service, what impact will that have on the expected savings as originally
estimated by the former Treasurer?
(3) What is
the expected figure for the entire public service for when the freeze or cap
expires at the end of 2013–14 financial year?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
As I said yesterday, one of the significant successes of this government, both
financially and in terms of management of government employees, including the
government trading enterprises, has been our control over the number of people
employed by government. That is what matters at the end of the day.
Mr M.P. Whitely : It has blown out from
37 000 to 110 000 in two weeks!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member applied for
the job of Treasurer yesterday —
Mr M.P. Whitely : I just felt so sorry
for you with such a shallow talent pool!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We thought about it!
Mr M.P. Whitely : You did think about
it? Yes, I thought you might!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I did!
Mr
M. McGowan : It would be an improvement on the current occupant!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is so inept.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Everyone else is smiling!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Cannington—the self-proclaimed most honest person in
Parliament! What does that say about the rest of us?
I return to the question. In 2011–12, there were 108 000
FTEs, and in 2012–13 there were also 108 000. In 2013–14, it
stays the same, so the cap had stayed the same. Currently, there are 106 000—2
000 fewer—so in fact we have reduced. That has been one of the reasons
that this government has been able to maintain a budget surplus, and has been
able to fund programs in health and education. It also means, by implication,
that there is a higher level of productivity in our state public service. More
is being done, if you like, with actually fewer people. That is the reality;
that has been part of the reform.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what matters in controlling the total number. As to the convoluted way
in which the member asked the question, yes, the actual freeze is on the 37 000.
Yes, it is; that is right.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So congratulations! But the point is —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : That is only the truth! Don't worry about the truth;
it's the answer that counts!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If you understood anything at all —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There is no point.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : There is no point with an idiot like you.
The
SPEAKER : I give the call to the member for Jandakot.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : You're just an idiot—a loudmouth idiot. That's
what he is, the member for Cannington.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : You have withdrawn,
Premier. I was going to ask you to; I will accept that.
I am not going to remind members
about my giving the call to someone in this place and other people continuing
to talk.
As I said yesterday, one of the significant successes of this government, both
financially and in terms of management of government employees, including the
government trading enterprises, has been our control over the number of people
employed by government. That is what matters at the end of the day.
Mr M.P. Whitely : It has blown out from
37 000 to 110 000 in two weeks!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member applied for
the job of Treasurer yesterday —
Mr M.P. Whitely : I just felt so sorry
for you with such a shallow talent pool!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We thought about it!
Mr M.P. Whitely : You did think about
it? Yes, I thought you might!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I did!
Mr
M. McGowan : It would be an improvement on the current occupant!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is so inept.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Everyone else is smiling!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Cannington—the self-proclaimed most honest person in
Parliament! What does that say about the rest of us?
I return to the question. In 2011–12, there were 108 000
FTEs, and in 2012–13 there were also 108 000. In 2013–14, it
stays the same, so the cap had stayed the same. Currently, there are 106 000—2
000 fewer—so in fact we have reduced. That has been one of the reasons
that this government has been able to maintain a budget surplus, and has been
able to fund programs in health and education. It also means, by implication,
that there is a higher level of productivity in our state public service. More
is being done, if you like, with actually fewer people. That is the reality;
that has been part of the reform.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what matters in controlling the total number. As to the convoluted way
in which the member asked the question, yes, the actual freeze is on the 37 000.
Yes, it is; that is right.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So congratulations! But the point is —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : That is only the truth! Don't worry about the truth;
it's the answer that counts!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If you understood anything at all —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There is no point.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : There is no point with an idiot like you.
The
SPEAKER : I give the call to the member for Jandakot.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : You're just an idiot—a loudmouth idiot. That's
what he is, the member for Cannington.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : You have withdrawn,
Premier. I was going to ask you to; I will accept that.
I am not going to remind members
about my giving the call to someone in this place and other people continuing
to talk.
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