❓ Shadow Treasurer Wyatt questions the Treasurer about a $45 million shortfall in the Department of Education's budget and whether it will be covered by additional funding later in the year. The Treasurer declines to guarantee this won't happen, citing fluctuating agency needs and ongoing discussions.
AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION — DIRECTOR GENERAL
607. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Treasurer guarantee that that $45 million difference will not simply be met
by the allocation of another $45 million later this year?
OF EDUCATION — DIRECTOR GENERAL
607. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Treasurer guarantee that that $45 million difference will not simply be met
by the allocation of another $45 million later this year?
AnswerView source ↗
No, I cannot simply guarantee that.
We will work through a process with Education, as we do with all our agencies.
It is the case that, from time to time—especially in the larger
agencies where activity can fluctuate, such as Health and Education—we
have to reconsider the funding model based on growth, demand and other factors.
My preference would be that the Department of Education met the leave liability
challenge, but it is having difficulty; the Department of Health is having
difficulty meeting the leave liability challenge. This is a significant issue
for government. If they cannot meet that challenge, we will certainly work with
them to understand how they can meet those broad savings targets from other
areas within their portfolios. But is there an ironclad guarantee that that is
going to deliver the totality of the savings? No, there is not, but we will
certainly exercise every endeavour to make sure that we do.
We will work through a process with Education, as we do with all our agencies.
It is the case that, from time to time—especially in the larger
agencies where activity can fluctuate, such as Health and Education—we
have to reconsider the funding model based on growth, demand and other factors.
My preference would be that the Department of Education met the leave liability
challenge, but it is having difficulty; the Department of Health is having
difficulty meeting the leave liability challenge. This is a significant issue
for government. If they cannot meet that challenge, we will certainly work with
them to understand how they can meet those broad savings targets from other
areas within their portfolios. But is there an ironclad guarantee that that is
going to deliver the totality of the savings? No, there is not, but we will
certainly exercise every endeavour to make sure that we do.
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