❓ Question on Notice 1116 seeks data on the re-employment of individuals who previously accepted voluntary redundancies within the WA public sector, along with the number and cost of voluntary redundancies within the Department of Health over the past eight financial years. The answer provides data on the number and cost of voluntary redundancies, and refers to regulations preventing re-employment during a restriction period.
AnsweredQoN 1116Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to all employees of the Department of Health and I ask:(a) as of 30 June 2025, how many staff employed by the Department had previously accepted a voluntary redundancy for a former role at the Department, earlier iterations of the Department (e.g. after machinery of government changes), or any other Western Australian Government Department(s) or their earlier iterations:(i) at least once;(ii) at least twice;(iii) at least three times;(iv) at least four times;(v) at least five times; and(vi) more than five times;(b) for each of the following years, how many voluntary redundancies were taken by staff employed by the Department:(i) 2017-18;(ii) 2018-19;(iii) 2019-20;(iv) 2020-21;(v) 2021-22;(vi) 2022-23;(vii) 2023-24; and(viii) 2024-25; and(c) for each of the years in (b) what was the total cost of paying out voluntary redundancies for staff employed by the Department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health; Mental Health
Response time
5 days
(a) The Public Sector Management (Redeployment and Redundancy) Regulations 2014 require that a person who has accepted a voluntary redundancy is not re-employed in the Western Australian public sector during the mandatory restriction period prescribed under Regulation 17. Where a public sector employee returns to public sector employment within the mandatory restriction period, repayment of relevant entitlement is required. The Department ensures compliance with these employment regulations for all current employees.
(b) - (c) Table 1 shows, by financial year, the number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff employed by the Department of Health and the annual cost of these redundancy payments.
Table 1. The number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff employed by the Department of Health and total cost of paying out voluntary redundancies for staff employed by the Department.
Financial year Number of voluntary redundancies Cost ($’000) 2017–18 76 8,568 2018–19 17 1,947 2019–20 1 168 2020–21 4 365 2021–22 5 399 2022–23 0 0 2023–24 2 63 2024–25 3 282
Financial year
Number of voluntary redundancies
Cost ($’000)
2017–18
76
8,568
2018–19
17
1,947
2019–20
1
168
2020–21
4
365
2021–22
5
399
2022–23
0
0
2023–24
2
63
2024–25
3
282
(b) - (c) Table 1 shows, by financial year, the number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff employed by the Department of Health and the annual cost of these redundancy payments.
Table 1. The number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff employed by the Department of Health and total cost of paying out voluntary redundancies for staff employed by the Department.
Financial year Number of voluntary redundancies Cost ($’000) 2017–18 76 8,568 2018–19 17 1,947 2019–20 1 168 2020–21 4 365 2021–22 5 399 2022–23 0 0 2023–24 2 63 2024–25 3 282
Financial year
Number of voluntary redundancies
Cost ($’000)
2017–18
76
8,568
2018–19
17
1,947
2019–20
1
168
2020–21
4
365
2021–22
5
399
2022–23
0
0
2023–24
2
63
2024–25
3
282
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