Mrs Hodson-Thomas questions the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure regarding significant increases in savings targets for Advertising, Travel and Consultancy, and a substantial cut to the Department's Priority and Assurance Dividend. The Minister deflects responsibility for the dividend cut to the Treasurer.

AnsweredQoN 1357Legislative Assembly
Asked
19 February 2002
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

(b) will the Minister explain why the agreed level of savings under the item Advertising, Travel and Consultancy has increased more than threefold or by around $4 million per annum since the Budget was handed down in September and will the Minister give specific detail as to how and where these additional savings are to be achieved; and (c) will the Minister explain why $25 million over 4 years was slashed from the Priority and Assurance Dividend for the Department of Planning and Infrastructure between the handing down of the Budget and the tabling of the abovementioned document on 25 October 2001 and how has this affected that Department’s bottom line?
(c) will the Minister explain why $25 million over 4 years was slashed from the Priority and Assurance Dividend for the Department of Planning and Infrastructure between the handing down of the Budget and the tabling of the abovementioned document on 25 October 2001 and how has this affected that Department’s bottom line?
(b). The Budget figure was based only on Consolidated Fund spending, whereas the later figure includes Trust Fund expediture. (c). The Priority and Assurance Dividend has been based on Treasury calculations. Further information in this regard should be sought from the Treasurer.
(c). The Priority and Assurance Dividend has been based on Treasury calculations. Further information in this regard should be sought from the Treasurer.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
26 March 2002
Responded by
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
35 days
(a). As indicated in a footnote to the 25 October release, 'The Major Policy Decisions table within the Budget Papers incorrectly quoted the level of savings originally required of the agency rather than the agreed level of saving'.
(b). The Budget figure was based only on Consolidated Fund spending, whereas the later figure includes Trust Fund expediture.
(c). The Priority and Assurance Dividend has been based on Treasury calculations. Further information in this regard should be sought from the Treasurer.

Explore WA Government Data

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

Explore more