A parliamentary question seeks data on sick leave at Hakea Prison since the Gallop Government took office, probing increases, costs, and the Attorney General's response. The answer provides data, cost estimates, and downplays the significance of the increase.

AnsweredQoN 442Legislative Council
Asked
28 November 2002
Portfolio
minister representing the Attorney General

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What is the number of days sick leave taken each month at Hakea Prison since the Gallop Government took office? (2) Has the rate at which sick leave is taken at this prison increased since the Gallop Government took office? If so, by how much? (3) What is the cost of this sick leave? (4) Is the Attorney General concerned by the amount of sick leave taken; and, if so, what is he doing to address the problem? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(2) Has the rate at which sick leave is taken at this prison increased since the Gallop Government took office? If so, by how much? (3) What is the cost of this sick leave? (4) Is the Attorney General concerned by the amount of sick leave taken; and, if so, what is he doing to address the problem? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(3) What is the cost of this sick leave? (4) Is the Attorney General concerned by the amount of sick leave taken; and, if so, what is he doing to address the problem? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(4) Is the Attorney General concerned by the amount of sick leave taken; and, if so, what is he doing to address the problem? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. In the course of answering the question I will be giving a figure for November 2002. The answer is current as of when it was provided, namely yesterday, so there may be a change. The Attorney General has provided a response in these terms - (1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(1) Sick leave for prison officers at Hakea Prison is as follows - Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
Jan - Dec (2001) Jan - Dec (2002) January - 271 February 331 271 March 436 360 April 354 344 May 344 487 June 335 564 July 304 455 August 350 465 September 343 382 October 404 430 November 341 149 December 386 We were not the Government for the whole of February 2001. (2) For the period above, the total increase to date is 250 days. (3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(3) Approximately 20 per cent of sick leave is covered by overtime. If 20 per cent of the 250 days sick leave was covered by overtime, the cost would have been approximately $9 000. If the entire 250 days had been covered by overtime, the total cost would have been approximately $45 000. In the time available to answer this question it is not possible to analyse each of the 4 178 days sick leave this year to determine whether they were covered by overtime or not. (4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.
(4) An average increase of approximately one day per officer in the above period is not considered significant. However, it would be disingenuous of the member to attempt to link industrial disputation with sick leave. As the member would know, sick leave is taken for a variety of reasons.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more