❓ Hon. McSweeney asks about the skills shortage in local government and whether the department is looking overseas to fill positions. Hon. Ford responds that his agency isn't, but local governments are, and outlines planned workshops to address structural issues.
AnsweredQoN 751Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT - SKILLS SHORTAGE
(1) What is the minister’s department doing to alleviate the skills shortage in local government, and can the minister confirm that the department is looking overseas to fill positions? (2) If yes, what positions is the department looking to fill? Hon JON FORD
(1) What is the minister’s department doing to alleviate the skills shortage in local government, and can the minister confirm that the department is looking overseas to fill positions? (2) If yes, what positions is the department looking to fill? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
(2) If yes, what positions is the department looking to fill? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
(1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
(2) If yes, what positions is the department looking to fill? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question. (1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
(1)-(2) I am not aware that my agency is in fact looking overseas to fill positions. However, I am aware that quite a number of local governments are looking overseas to fill positions. In fact, I spoke to the Shire of Collie when the regional cabinet meeting was held in Collie, and I believe that the shire was trying to recruit an engineer from New Zealand. At the start of November, I will conduct a number of workshops with local government to deal with a lot of structural issues. One of those issues is to look at what we can do as a team to fill those positions. Part of that is structural reform, allowing local government to compete in the open market. Part of that is sharing resources, and we are looking at whether there are any impediments under the act and a heap of other things. However, I will take that part of the question on notice, and I will give the member comprehensive lists and inform her on how we are dealing with it.
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